Malcom X, an American Muslim Minister and rights activist, once said that “You are not supposed to be so blind with patriotism that you cannot face reality. Wrong is wrong, no matter who says it.” He is speaking of a term called civil disobedience, the active refusal to obey certain laws, demands, and commands of the government, or of an occupying international power. Civil disobedience is used by influential “rebels” all over the world and throughout history. Many people have different opinions on whether civil disobedience is important or not. It is important for people to take a stand when injustice occurs because some people may not be able to stand up for what they believe in, if people choose to stand up for what they believe in they
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If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality.” In this quote, Bishop Desmond is saying how if someone sees another being persecuted and does not act upon it, the person being persecuted will not appreciate it. An example of a “mouse” being “stepped on” is the Michael Fay case. Michael Fay is an American citizen that lived in Singapore as a teenager. At the age of eighteen Michael was sentenced to a series of “caning” after being convicted of vandalism. Caning is a legal type of punishment in Singapore that allows the accused to be hit several times on the buttocks with a long, often bamboo, cane. Hoping to raise awareness for this somewhat outrageous act by the government, Michael’s father reached out to the United States, and as his father assumed the people of America were very interested in the case. Michael Fay was on Singaporean grounds when convicted but is technically an American citizen. In the end Michael Fay still received the caning but with less strikes. Michael Fay’s case is a strong example on why people should always speak up when witnessing someone helpless being persecuted because a law may be made and enforced but that does not make it …show more content…
Susan B. Anthony, one of the leaders for the women's suffrage who gave many speeches in the United States and Europe, fought for the women's right to vote during the 1800s and early 1900s. She fought the government to the point where she was voted illegally in the presidential election, was arrested, fined $100, and she never paid the fine just to express her civil disobedience against the government for not letting her and all other women vote. Eventually, the government gave into her, and many other women's, persistence and have all women the right to vote. Although many people of history were for civil disobedience people in the twenty-first century or even in the past may have/do disagree that civil disobedience is an outrageous act.
Many people claim that laws are made for a reason and that rebellious people cause violence and an outbreak in the government, but Gandhi, leader of the Indian independence movement, led an army of people and fought the government peacefully. He used a tactic called passive resistance, a nonviolent opposition to authority. One
If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality.” In this quote, Bishop Desmond is saying how if someone sees another being persecuted and does not act upon it, the person being persecuted will not appreciate it. An example of a “mouse” being “stepped on” is the Michael Fay case. Michael Fay is an American citizen that lived in Singapore as a teenager. At the age of eighteen Michael was sentenced to a series of “caning” after being convicted of vandalism. Caning is a legal type of punishment in Singapore that allows the accused to be hit several times on the buttocks with a long, often bamboo, cane. Hoping to raise awareness for this somewhat outrageous act by the government, Michael’s father reached out to the United States, and as his father assumed the people of America were very interested in the case. Michael Fay was on Singaporean grounds when convicted but is technically an American citizen. In the end Michael Fay still received the caning but with less strikes. Michael Fay’s case is a strong example on why people should always speak up when witnessing someone helpless being persecuted because a law may be made and enforced but that does not make it …show more content…
Susan B. Anthony, one of the leaders for the women's suffrage who gave many speeches in the United States and Europe, fought for the women's right to vote during the 1800s and early 1900s. She fought the government to the point where she was voted illegally in the presidential election, was arrested, fined $100, and she never paid the fine just to express her civil disobedience against the government for not letting her and all other women vote. Eventually, the government gave into her, and many other women's, persistence and have all women the right to vote. Although many people of history were for civil disobedience people in the twenty-first century or even in the past may have/do disagree that civil disobedience is an outrageous act.
Many people claim that laws are made for a reason and that rebellious people cause violence and an outbreak in the government, but Gandhi, leader of the Indian independence movement, led an army of people and fought the government peacefully. He used a tactic called passive resistance, a nonviolent opposition to authority. One