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 laws; only then can our civil disobedience be justified.
             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. Our nation is said to be founded on "freedom" despite the known history of slavery and racism, of which is still alive today. It is a fact that we not only have many resources available to us, but that these resources are managed and controlled by government officials, who can arrange laws to suit their propaganda. 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 ...