The Role Of Peaceful Resistance In America

The word resistance holds a negative diction in todays society. Resistance is seen as a taboo thing to many people because it means raising your voice when it is quiet and it is know that many don't like the noise. However, peaceful civil resistance has made a change throughout history. Although many feel like peaceful resistance is detrimental to a free society one cannot avoid the fact that does make a society more aware of issues pending in the country.

Back in 1791, after years of controversy between the Federalists and Anti-Federalists, the Framers added the Bill of Rights to the United States Constitution. Included in this addition was the First Amendment. More specifically, the right to protest. America is known as “the land of the free,” a democracy that is ever changing to suit its progressive societal needs. Americans have the right to inflict change and address their concerns by resisting. Resistance is defined as “the refusal to accept or comply with something” (Dictionary.com). Americans have the right to confront issues. This “refusal to accept” an issue is an immeasurable energy and freedom that is unique to the American people. Due to the themes of democracy, freedom, and constitutional intentions, peaceful resistance to laws positively impacts a free society.

A free society that limits or restricts the voice of its people fundamentally contradicts the exact meaning of free. The birth of America itself was knitted in the womb of violent disobedience of the law, and thus exists as a historically essential piece of who we are as Americans.

"Peaceful resistance" is a very controversial issue in this day in age. Many Americans, if asked, probably have many varying views and opinions on what peaceful resistance is. For some it could be marching down the streets with signs, while for others its shouting their rights without causing any violence. Now to me, peaceful resistance is when one or multiples stand for what they deem right or wrong without causing any harm to others. To me this serves as a positive because not only does it allow for people to be heard, but also for others to listen. When a peaceful protest takes place often enough it is shown through the internet, social media, television, news, etc. At some point everyone will hear about it and based on what they see they

I believe that peaceful resistance to laws is a subject that is not just black and white, but it is a grey subject where in some instances it has a positive impact and in other occasions it has a negative impact. Our country was established because of resistance to laws, it was not peaceful but it did have a positive effect. Also during the Civil War there was a positive impact from a non-peaceful resistance to laws. Some of our law and amendments have been changed because of peaceful resistance but, Peaceful resistance to laws can bring about a lot of commotion. Also, breaking the law, to change the law is not exactly the way to go about it. There measures American citizens can take to change a law or an amendment they believe is unjustifiable.

Peaceful resistance is a major part of American history, from the American Revolution to the 1960’s Civil Rights Movement to the Travel Ban protests of today. These instances of peaceful resistance shape American society for the better, as the voices of minorities are heard and unjust laws are ended. Peaceful resistance does positively impact a free society, as supported by Henry Thoreau, demonstrated by the 1960 Civil Rights Movement, and anticipated by protests of today.

In my opinion, Peaceful resistance is the reason we have so much freedom in this country today. Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) made it farther (and had a bigger impact) on the President of the United Sates at the time tan Malcom X. A perfect example of peaceful resistance would be Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Letter from a Birmingham Jail”. In this letter MLK peacefully puts down the people o the outside who are hurting the rights movement more than helping. As MLK was being put down by some of the people who should be helping this movement he calmly and kindly tells them that what is happening at that time isn’t okay and he will do everything in his power to peacefully change how the United States is today, and especially to get African American’s right to vote. Although, Rosa Parks did provoke the bus

Peaceful resistance to laws positively impacts our free society. It allows us to make our voices heard and spread a message if there is a law that we find is either unfair or goes against our protected freedoms. Peaceful resistance has helped our country grow on multiple occasions. It has always been a part of our countries history and is well protected by our First Amendment rights. Due to this, There is little to know doubt that peaceful resistance has positively effected the lives of many Americans.

Many people will argue that peaceful resistance to laws and a need for change is unconstitutional, possibly because they believe that the constitution holds true and applies to this day and age. Truthfully, I don’t care what the constitution says and I do not think any of us should take it literally. It’s ambiguous and completely out of date. If the Constitution were applicable to any other time than when it was written, we would not need peaceful resistance. We would not have needed to “peacefully resist” things like segregation, slavery, or inequality. Because the laws of this country and many other countries have a tendency to be oppressive, unfair, and unfavorable towards minority groups, peaceful resistant is not only positively impactful,

Peaceful resistance to laws is one of the strongest and most important foundations of a free society. Countless peaceful demonstrations have been led in the history of the United States, with positive outcomes that have helped shape the country.

Peaceful resistance in the United States of America, done with the right intentions, has a positive impact of a free society. I hold this belief because as humans we can be flawed in our ways of thinking and require something to draw our attention for us to realize our flawed views. Peaceful resistance is positive because it draws attention to an issue in society, it communicates a level of civility, and it attempts to initiate a positive way of addressing issues in society.

I believe that peaceful resistance to laws both positively and negatively impacts a free society. Civil disobedience is the refusal to obey certain laws and government demands one considers unjust, and accepting the consequences. The first amendment prohibits Congress to enact any law that would intervene with any person's civil rights. Though everybody knows this, why are there discussions about what people can and cannot refuse to do. Some people refuse to do things because it goes against their faith, which as stated earlier is allowed according to the first amendment. While others refuse to see what is right in front of them, in the very center of the Declaration of Independence.

Peacefully resisting can show how powerful a person is; peacefully resisting shows a person with great patience and will power. Like Rosa Parks, peacefully resisting shows the public that, law enforcement can be crude and strict. Thanks to her protest though, we don't have horrid racial discrimination. To some degree, I can agree that peacefully resisting is good, it gives the people hope and courage to stand up for what they believe in. "Strength in numbers" is not just a quote people throw around, if you compare the numbers to people against law enforcement (1.1 million - 318.9 million) enough encouraged people can overthrow the police. Which is where resisting can get ugly or "negative". Laws are here for a reason, to protect us the best they can. They are only words written on documents, true, but we the people have to sworn to go by them. There will be cases where the law can be wrong, but the majority of the time it isn't. However, going to prison because you did not want to sit on the back of the bus is a little extreme. Equity, not equality. Having a rapist bunk in the same room as a person who gave out important information does not seem right and 'justified'. Then again we are just people, so in any stand point you can say equally satisfying arguments on this topic, there is no right or wrong

Peaceful resistance, though controversial, is a positive force in our free society, battling this lingering injustice. It is a way in which we can make our voices heard without risking injury to any part of our country.