Example Of Civil Disobedience

Civil disobedience is defined as the refusal to obey the demands or certain laws of a government/ occupying power. Without resorting to violence or active events of conflict, it is typically used in the form of a peaceful protest. Civil disobedience has been seen in historical context as a main approach and philosophy of nationalist movements in Africa, India, and also in the American civil rights movement. It can also be a useful tactic in labor, anti-war, and other social movements occurring in numerous countries around the world. In both Sophocles’ Antigone and Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Letter from a Birmingham Jail, the author describes two very different displays of civil disobedience. Antigone disobeyed “man’s law” and buried her brother. Martin Luther King, Jr., on the other hand, fought to change the law for the rights of a large group of people. For this reason, Martin Luther King, Jr.’s efforts were more admirable than the efforts of Antigone.

Civil Disobedience has been around for hundreds of years. This a practice first put into play by a man by the name of Henry David Thoreau who believed that if you didn’t agree with a rule then you should act against it in a nonviolent way, and be willing to accept any punishment that comes with it. His teachings were followed by famous activists such as Ghandi, and Martin Luther King Jr., and many others.

Civil disobedience allows citizens in the free society of the United States to express their opinions in a way that is sure to evoke governmental attention, while enlightening the public

What is civil disobedience? Civil disobedience is the opposing of a law one finds unjust by refusing to follow it and accepting the consequences. So many people have performed acts of civil disobedience from Martin Luther King Jr. to everyday people. But what people did as civil disobedience a hundred years ago is completely different today. It is such an important part of a free society because it helps to define what a free society is, shows the true meaning of freedom of speech, and shows the government that citizens are not willing to follow an unjust law without violence.

Civil disobedience is the refusal to conform to a society or a set of laws. Civil disobedience has come a long way from its beginning. It has been developing and will continue for generations to come, as it is considered a duty of a person. The opinions and beliefs of civil disobedience cultured in our society by both Henry David Thoreau and Martin Luther King Jr. are still present in our modern-day society; nevertheless, these opinions and beliefs still need to be expanded in order to keep up with the fast-growing population.

While growing up, our parents taught us what was right and what was wrong based on their beliefs and views. When we were younger, we were taught to follow and obey those who were older than us and possessed a higher authoritative status. One’s reasoning for being obedient includes: religious beliefs, background, and work ethics. Civil disobedience played a large role in America. Creating protests, riots, and sit-ins, America had many examples of disobedience. In America, we value our rights as citizens and individuals. We have the right to protest as stated in the first amendment of the United States Constitution, which is called Freedom of Speech. According to the Webster Dictionary, civil disobedience is said to be “the refusal to obey government demands or commands and nonresistance to consequent arrest and punishment.” Citizens are willing to accept the legal consequences associated with their disobedient actions. How does the law respond to people who engage in civil disobedience? Fining and jail time are the legal consequences enforced by authority but also there is a trend of change. I believe civil disobedience is justified simply by your own personal beliefs and the rights you attain as a citizen. The law is the law, if you disobey; the authoritative figure is responsible for giving a consequence.

Using civil disobedience to solve an issue may require mass protests. Using protests shows that many are on your side, and that may bring your opponent down. Some protests may not be a march, for instance, the Boston Tea Party. On December 16, 1773, colonists dressed as Native Americans and raided British Ships in the Boston Harbor. This was because the colonists were very frustrated with the Tea tax. At that time, tea was like a necessity to the colonists and the British. The problem for the colonists was that the British were the ones who controlled the tea. The British East India Company was the company that imported tea. The Boston Tea Party was a huge protest against the tea tax. On that day, 116 people threw the tea on the British ships overboard (“Participants in the Boston Tea Party” 1). This resulted in harming marine life, loss of British tea, and the contamination of the water. These negative results made the British notice the colonists’ problem about the tax and how the colonists feel about the way they are treated by the

Civil disobedience is an appropriate response to perceived injustice today because it allows the oppressed and silenced a chance to protest unjust laws and unfair governments. Without civil disobedience our country wouldn’t be where it stands today. Back in the late 1700’s, early colonists boycotted and protested what they deemed unjust laws, such as the Stamp Act or Townshend Act. This later led to the American Revolution and the forming of the United States of America.

Civil disobedience is the backbone of all free nations. The positive influences of this act are visible in every aspect of life. Civil disobedience is peacefully disobeying any law thought unjust while accepting all legal repercussions. Peaceful resistance instigates change, allows communication with the government, and gives nation’s citizens power.

Why we do obey the law? According to philosopher Peter Singer, there are good reasons for obeying the law. But, he also argues, there are times when it acceptable to disobey law. Law are made to be obey, but in some cases people beliefs that there are exception where unjust laws sometimes can be disobey. Singer gives two arguments in favor of obeying laws.

Although laws and obedience are needed for a safe, structured, and organized society, where would our country be today without those who peacefully resisted unjust laws? This country's heroes are known for speaking out against things that were wrong with society, and it is still going on today. Without people who not only realize, but speak out about the things that society must change, no progress would be made in terms of a free society.

Throughout history, acts of civil disobedience have helped to force a reassessment of society's moral state of affairs. The concept of civil disobedience is not only essential for the government and society but for the potentially justifiable violation of law. Civil disobedience remains today very much a vibrant part of liberal democracies and has always maintained a major concern for historical people who had their millstone in the process of revolutionizing our world to a better place to live

When you look at civil disobedience from the other side of the spectrum it can been seen as just an act of tyranny. For example when it came to the situation with those people who held themselves up in the wildlife reserve. If you look at it from the side of those who they are showing disobedience to it looks like a bunch of wild people who have no connection with the farmers who are in jail which is the reason for the whole event if I were the government this would not make me want to hear you out it just proves that the law is right. There is also the fact that the farmers own family didn’t want anything to do with the protesters as their lawyer says, “the family wants nothing to do with this”(times). In order to get someone's attention you need to be collected this is not the case with some people when they enact an act of civil disobedience for example the way Antigone went at Creon , “Let that be your excuse I'm going now to make a burial mound for my dear brother… I’ll hate you if you're going talk that way so leave me and my foolishness along”(line 100-110). My point is that everyone deserves respect and that I can see why some see civil disobedience as a nuisance. They have many problems and they are trying their hardest to make sure everyone gets fair treatment but they must feel very disrespected that the people they are trying to protect revolt and treat

Civil disobedience is one of the most positive possible instruments of change in a democratic society. As St. Thomas of Aquinas said, “An unjust law is a human law that is not rooted in eternal law and natural law,” and civilly disobedient actors protest against laws which violate such moral imperatives (Frankovich). When the laws they live by conflict with their deepest personal beliefs, they make their displeasure known in the hopes of achieving change.

Civil disobedience is to infringe the law in which you do not feel is genuine morality as well as just. Therefore civil disobedience can be both just and unjust, and that, within the following arguments, it analyzes both the means of civil disobedience through how it is unjust when based upon society's ways and that it is just when it relies upon divine laws.