The timing of this question could not be more appropriate with the political climate in America being what is now. Women's marches, Black, Blue (and a rainbow of other colors) Lives Matter and nighttime TV comedy routines are only an example of Americans exercising their right to speak against political authority and what they feel are unjust laws. Risking arrest and physical harm communities have marched in the streets against unfair treatment by local law enforcement. Vocal protests against voting stipulations and uproars concerning gun violence have rang out with regularity over the last year. In my opinion even these efforts have not been enough. Americans have allowed politicians and the media to form our opinions of society. Unlike
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I marvel at how we pick and choose our opportunities to protest. Rather than showing unity we are apt to be divided in our protests along racial, religious and economic lines. This weakens our message and allows the status quo to prevail. It is almost as if some unseen force dangles us like puppets so that we become the epitome of "a house against itself cannot stand". Peaceful resistance to laws can benefit our society if accomplished in such a way that everyone is allowed to have a voice without the more powerful seeking to oppress. Peaceful resistance to laws also benefits society when it results in expanding narrow view points or increasing tolerance. The last year has been a difficult one for America in that there arose so many volatile issues. The political landscape was fraught with what I feel were poor examples of how a democracy should operate. So much so that I heard many in my generation wonder out loud "why bother?” If we are so easily discouraged by one election then where will we find the fortitude to stand up for those things that really matter. Any law that diminishes a human being should be challenged to the upmost. My fear is that we no longer care enough about one another to put forth the energy to fight for causes that may not
I marvel at how we pick and choose our opportunities to protest. Rather than showing unity we are apt to be divided in our protests along racial, religious and economic lines. This weakens our message and allows the status quo to prevail. It is almost as if some unseen force dangles us like puppets so that we become the epitome of "a house against itself cannot stand". Peaceful resistance to laws can benefit our society if accomplished in such a way that everyone is allowed to have a voice without the more powerful seeking to oppress. Peaceful resistance to laws also benefits society when it results in expanding narrow view points or increasing tolerance. The last year has been a difficult one for America in that there arose so many volatile issues. The political landscape was fraught with what I feel were poor examples of how a democracy should operate. So much so that I heard many in my generation wonder out loud "why bother?” If we are so easily discouraged by one election then where will we find the fortitude to stand up for those things that really matter. Any law that diminishes a human being should be challenged to the upmost. My fear is that we no longer care enough about one another to put forth the energy to fight for causes that may not