Civil Disobedience In The Military

“An individual who breaks a law that conscience tells him is unjust, and who willingly accepts the penalty of imprisonment in order to arouse the conscience of the community over its injustice, is in reality expressing the highest respect for the law” (Martin Luther King Jr.). The term ‘civil disobedience’ was first used by Thoreau in his 1848 essay to describe his refusal to pay for the taxes to prosecute a war in Mexico and to enforce the Fugitive Slave Law passed by the American government. Throughout history, acts of civil disobedience have been successful in helping to cause a reexamination of society's moral parameters. Amongst the multitude of injustices found in today’s society, North Energy Direct (NED) Pipeline is one that would greatly …show more content…
In order to stop this probable destruction of land, they will need to protest both the NED and their products. Instead of relying on their products and services, they must turn to smaller, local businesses to meet consumer needs. Similar to the African American communities’ boycott of the Montgomery transportation system, the boycott of NED products and services will ideally cause a lack economic growth for the company. When the North Energy Direct Company realizes that the pipeline process is hindering their economic growth, they will immediately call on the public for answers as to why the project is upsetting civilians. Ideally, if the Company listens to the demands, suggestions, and concerns from the public about the Pipeline project, they will postpone, or even cancel the project. Along with protesting NED products and services, communities in Southern New England should petition to end the threat of the pipeline. To increase awareness for the cause, our communities can discuss potential problems that would be caused by the pipeline while also increasing the amount of signage reminding citizens that the threat is imminent (Northeast Energy Direct …show more content…
Citizens of southern New Hampshire and northern Massachusetts need to join forces similar to how the African American community in Montgomery joined forces. If these citizens fail to both cooperate with one another as well as partake in their right of civil disobedience, the effects on the environment and the landscape will be catastrophic. This proposed pipeline will take away access to homeowner’s hard earned land, disrupt wildlife and our natural resources, and permanently scar the beautiful countryside landscape. If citizens on the pipeline’s destructive path do not use civil disobedience to fight the Northeast Energy Direct Company’s selfish plans, the outcome will ruin the land, wildlife, and natural resources for the next generation. If citizens living on and around the pipeline’s planned path of destruction join together and use civil disobedience, they, like those who boycotted the Montgomery transportation system, can and will require significant reform from the Northeast Energy Direct Company which can result in the eventual repeal of the proposed