assumption that no human knows what is best for the nation without the influence of that nation. By resisting against laws‚ we remind our representatives of our needs in a direct‚ loud way. Robert Goldwin in “The Case Against Civil Disobedience”‚ argues that civil disobedience is ultimately ineffectual‚ that it is impossible to change a system from within. It is true that peaceful resistance to laws is ultimately not concerned with radically changing the system‚ but protesting laws that are at discord
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“Antigone” by Sophocles and “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” by Martin Luther King Jr. both shows civil disobedience as a way to take a stand for what the protagonist believes in; the latter is less of a story but more of a rebuttal in writing to those who disagreed with Dr. King’s methods of gaining equality and desegregation of the south. The two authors saw a need for civil disobedience. In “Antigone” the protagonist decided that despite what the king had said she was going to follow
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Thoreau simply stated in his “Civil Disobedience” “do not obey unjust laws”‚ while Dr.MLK said in his “Letter to Birmingham”‚ “unjust law is a power the majority compel the minority to obey”. These two statements show that the two men thought that some laws were made to be broken‚ just as Dr
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change‚ then do everything in your power to change it. He said “Must the citizen ever for a moment‚ or in the least degree‚ resign his conscience to the legislation? Why has every man a conscience‚ then?” (Saxby 2). His overall message in Civil Disobedience was that Americans have the inalienable right to think for themselves and have an independent conscience so use it to one’s full advantage. Like Sojourner Truth‚ Thoreau thought that if Americans‚ both men and women regardless of color‚ would stand
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When it comes to the history of civil disobedience and the history behnd various movements‚ the list can continue on and on. For example‚ you can discuss the movements within the act itself. Such as the very famous Civil Rights Movement that took place in the 50s‚ 60s‚ and even well into the 70s. Mohandas Gandhi‚ an extremely profound believer in civil rights‚ and equal rights amongst all people‚ lead a movement that sparked a movement and defied the British Government. On March 12‚ 1930 he lead
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India’s greatest political leader and social reformer. His dream was that of a free India‚ where there was unity regardless of religious believes or political views. Gandhi accomplished his goal of a free nation by nonviolent protest and civil disobedience or non-cooperation but‚ in the end‚ he failed to keep the nation united. Gandhi believed that war leads to dictatorship and nonviolence leads to democracy. He believed that true democracy could never come through violent means. The Gandhian nonviolence
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buses were desegregated Dec. 21‚ 1956 (Brunner & Haney‚ 2007). Martin Luther King Jr. 1956-1968 Southern Christian Leadership Conference cofounder and Civil Rights Leader. Mr. King was not just a civil rights leader he was the creator of civil disobedience organizing civil protests‚ marches‚ boycotts‚ and voter registration (Brunner‚ 2007‚ ¶ 4). Daisy Bates and The Little
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revered and respected for his work in social programs to help his country-became bombarded with mockery and a daily dose of “Hey hey LBJ‚ how many kids did you kill today?” What comes out of this example is that the initial disbelief that civil disobedience will not
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In a democracy we have a moral duty in general to obey the laws or to attempt altering laws we don’t like through the electoral process. In America civil disobedience cannot be justified since it goes against the ideals of democracy. Living in a country where there are legal solutions to a problem that can take months or years to solve‚ people must voice their concerns and rebel against the government through grassroots movements and protests. Breaking laws that were created to protect the government
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resistance to promote recognition of the problems between the Hindus and Muslims. Henry David Thoreau wrote “Civil Disobedience” in 1849. In “Civil Disobedience” Thoreau stated that if the government is unjust and partial then the people have no reason to follow its law. Thoreau participated in protest by not paying his taxes which he thought were unjust and he went to jail for this disobedience. Thoreau’s philosophy influenced the political thoughts of Martian Luther King Jr. and
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