Justified by Birmingham
Civil disobedience is one issue that has been revisited and disputed for many years because of the negative and positive ramifications it can have on society. Many great writers, philosophers, and revolutionaries, such as Martin Luther King Jr., have examined this with depth. A people's right to protest laws which are unjust, organize rallies or sit-ins, write to legislature regarding concerns, and publish writings which speak against government has not only been given, but, in many situations, has also been taken away. It is for those moments when our civil rights, which were granted to us through our nation's Bill of Rights, are taken away or lessened, that we, as a people of our nation and of God, have the right and duty to act and speak against the unjust. In his "Letter from Birmingham Jail," Martin Luther King Jr. tells us why he acted out against authority and states many examples which led to his decision. Through his letter, King clearly defines what civil disobedience is, and when it is okay to act accordingly and when it is not. It is my belief that civil disobedience is necessary in our world so long as we are acting out against a law that is unjust, while still maintaining respect for other l
Just as Jesus told us, we must decide for ourselves what is right, and follow the path of our brothers and sister that came before us; continuing the fight for equality and justice in our world. King gave us clear examples of what a just law is and what an unjust law is, and defined when we should act legally or disobediently. "Oppressed people cannot remain oppressed forever" (King, 191) and "Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed" (King 185) are two statements in which King brings to light the truth of our nation and our people. We must be willing to say, "I have that right and I am exerting it. Either way, they most likely will not willingly forfeit their riches so that others may live at the same standards. We must learn to listen to what is right and protest what is wrong. These are the times when we must practice our rights to civilly disobey and come against those laws, and officials, who are working against what is right; it is our duty to do so. brought a new light to the world that is still in its processes today. Furthermore, we are warned, by Jesus, that our leaders will make unjust demands. Our nation is said to be founded on "freedom" despite the known history of slavery and racism, of which is still alive today. We are given the right to free speech and although King showed us an example where even that right is taken from us, we must continue to use it for those times when it is not. Those that are oppressed as a result of this are the ones to suffer the repercussions, and those that are benefiting from the environment, either do not notice or simply do not care. For example, King was arrested in Birmingham "on a charge of parading without a permit" (188); however, by order of the First Amendment, King clearly had the right to a peaceful assembly and protest. As brothers and sisters of a world full of diversity, we are not only responsible for what happens to ourselves and for ourselves, but for each other as well.
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