Essay: A Changemaker's Call For Civil Disobedience

Each act of disobedience directs attention towards a specific idea, and prompts the society to talk about it. It also gives licesnse for the liberated members of that society to form their own opinions about the idea. Since the protest harms no one, save the individual who is willing to face the consequences of breaking the law in question. It does not infringe on any other individual's rights. Peaceful resistance to laws has a positive impact on a free society since it educates that society's members and may lead to more liberty for them, which would create a freer

Brilliantly put by what many deem to be America’s greatest president of all time, Abraham Lincoln, “Let every man remember that to violate the law is to trample on the blood of his father, and to tear the charter of his own and his children’s liberty.” Civil disobedience is defined as the refusal to comply with certain laws as a form of political protest. Although many may argue that this is the sole way to keep the government in check and to make minorities heard, rational people will realize that it is not this disrespect of the law that proves the democracy of our nation.

If we take a closer look at civil disobedience, we can better understand what it means, its goals, and its outcomes. Civil disobedience predominantly exists as direct and non-violent government defiance. Instead of voicing an opinion with a vote or a simple conversation, civil disobedience stands up for what is right using an individual’s whole influence. Therefore, some sacrifices regarding the legality of actions are made in order to preserve the integrity of the mission. In other words, why should a protester follow the law that they are trying to alter? That doesn’t make much sense, therefore civil disobedience allows unjust laws to be broken for the greater good. This method is very effective if, for example, a minority is attempting to

It is imperative to understand that the United States of America was born through acts of civil disobedience. And because American freedoms are constantly in danger of being encroached on, it is also important that citizens are aware of the worth that civil disobedience can possess. Civil disobedience is when a person or people refuse to obey a demand or restriction by the state that conflicts with higher law and conscience. The act requires that the disobedient one accept whatever may be the consequence of refusing, whether it be imprisonment, moral condemnation, fines, even perhaps death. It should be done when one’s spiritual searching and sense of rightness permit no other response. (Day 65: Disobedient Friends – Quakers and Civil Disobedience) There have been many instances of civil disobedience throughout American history which have had a powerful influence on the legal system and society as a whole.

America was founded on a principle of civil disobedience. With the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the Founding Fathers set forth a powerful precedent. The Declaration said in part, that when institutions of government becomes destructive or abusive of unalienable rights, it is the right of the people to alter it or to abolish it. The history of our nation tells us that civil disobedience is a civic responsibility, and in the alleged words of Thomas Jefferson, “Dissent is the highest form of patriotism”. From the Boston Tea Party to the Stonewall Riots, the United States Constitution and advances in racial, social, and gender equality support the idea that peaceful resistance positively contributes to a freer society, and a more equitable America.

Boycotts. Labor Resistance. Sit-Ins. Protests. Blockades. Debt Refusals. Tax Resistance. Civil disobedience has been a prominent form of influencing governmental policy and law to accept differing perspectives. Since the birth of the nation–beginning with the Boston Tea Party and continuing into modern movements such as the women’s suffrage–the United States relies on civil disobedience in order to keep governmental growth from becoming stagnant and aiding in the optimization of benefits for its citizens. Civil disobedience is an intentional, non-violent act against the state exercised by those banned from exerting power with the purpose of bringing equality, moral conviction, an upright criminal justice system, and extensive action. Although civil disobedience invalidates governmental authority, it is a necessary trade off for the protection of liberty guaranteed by the first amendment. Civil disobedience, as a recognized procedure, is an obligation for all citizens to combat injustice among legislature.

It is truly enough said that a corporation has no conscience; but a corporation of conscientious men is a corporation with a conscience. Law never made men a whit more just; and, by means of their respect for it, even the well-disposed are daily made the agents of injustice.” Indeed, a government of laws is not necessarily a just government. Nor is government necessarily driven by a conscience attuned to what is just and right. “The government itself….. Is equally liable to be abused and perverted before the people can act through it.” Moreover, while means and methods for change certainly exist within our government, meaningful change comes slowly, and only when provoked by conscientious action calling attention to that which needs to be challenged and changed. Indeed, civil disobedience has historically been the only means for the voiceless and disenfranchised to be heard. For these reasons, civil disobedience can sometimes be the only way to ignite action necessary to bring about significant

As an essential right of all American citizens, civil disobedience allows American people to strengthen and combine their voices in efforts to change their country. The United States is a country run by the people and for the people. Therefore, it is US citizens that make the United States the strong, independent, flourishing country it is today. It is US citizens that desire change and progress and use civil disobedience to share their ideas and led the countries in many of its advancements in work, racial tensions, and law.

Peaceful resistance to laws positively impacts a free society. It has a positive impact to a free society because most people would generally oppose taking the consequences for an unjust law, calling it absurd. By demonstrating to a society that you can make a difference by remaining peaceful to remove an unjust law, you will likely gain followers. This is good because one individual isn?t enough to change a law by protesting. Instead, a group or community can eventually make a difference to removing or altering unjust laws by performing civil disobedience.

Peaceful resistance to laws positively impacts a free society. Looking back at examples from history, without Rosa Parks, the Woman’s Suffrage Movement, or Martin Luther King Jr., the society we live in would be extremely different. Civil disobedience continues to contributes a huge positive impact on the world we live in today.

Although in the past there have been negative acts of disobedience, there has also been positive ones. Civil disobedience has impacted the world so much it should not be fawned upon but looked up to. It should be encouraged to help people stand against what they believe is wrong. Therefore, Civil disobedience isn’t a threat but a positive way to live.

It is because of civil disobedience that the United States of America has the social reforms that we all take for granted today. These include women’s suffrage, abolition of slavery, and even the independence of the United states of America. People should protest against government violation for their unalienable rights endowed by their creator which are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of

It is a well-known fact that without any form of civic engagement, democracy cannot survive. These forms of civic engagement may include voting in “free and fair election”, the right to freedom of political association, volunteerism, or even to engage in acts of civil disobedience, such as boycotting. One may decide which activity to participate in of their own free will. Whichever way the citizen feels that they best express themselves is the way they would choose. And although the options vary in importance, the most important of these activities is the right--or even duty--to engage in civil disobedience.

Civil disobedience isn’t uncommon in America, but the modern idea of civil disobedience has become flawed and distorted from its original intent. Currently, there are thousands of causes and ideals that are spastically flung around and just as soon forgotten. This is because the guise of civil disobedience is often abused by people simply to attract publicity. These methods of claimed civil disobedience often do little to nothing in working towards the goal that they claim to stand for, or their intensions are vague and unclear. For example, in the news, the most popular recent controversial example of civil disobedience is the kneeling during the national anthem before a football game. At its manifestation, this movement was intended to protest the inequalities in the treatment of races by the police especially in Chicago. This effectively accomplished nothing. It raised awareness but the majority of intelligent civilians were already aware of the inequalities. The flaw of this example is that the form of disobedience

Acts of civil disobedience, in the form of protest, are rising across the nation. Associated with much controversy, the term “protest” has seen many variations. Peaceful actions such as the Civil Rights Movement the violent Charlottesville and Ferguson riots only contribute to this confusion. There are those who attempt to justify both variants of protest- however, only one side is just and fair. Justifying civil disobedience only happens when conducted under peaceful circumstances. It is accepted as protest, an allowed method of expressing dismay towards a singular being, organization, or ruling.