Martin Luther King Jr. is a name known by all. He was born in 1929 and was a Baptist minister. He was also a leading spokesman for the American civil rights movement. A year before he won the Noble Peace Prize in 1964, he was incarcerated in an Alabama jail. While incarcerated he wrote an open letter called “Letter from the Birmingham City Jail”. In his letter he talks about the injustice that he faces, his idea of a nonviolent campaign, how laws can be unjust, how his ideals of nonviolence will bring change, and the racial injustices of the time. Dr. King Jr. claims in his letter that there are four basic steps to a nonviolent campaign. The first is the collection of the facts to determine whether injustices are alive. By this Dr. King Jr.
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King Jr.’s point on the differences between legal and moral was almost spot on. This is still an issue many face today and have faced in the past. One of the hardest choices is choosing between what your heart (moral) tells you to do and your brain (legal). This reminded me of a popular musical/movie called Les Miserables. It starts at a chain gang prison where the main character, Jean Valjean, is just finishing his 19 year sentence. He originally was charged with stealing, but got more time added to his sentence because he tried to escape. From looking at these bare facts like the prison guard, Javert, it seems the Jean Valjean was a criminal and he did break the law. However, what Jean Valjean stole was a loaf of bread to feed his sister’s starving son. So, while he was legally in the wrong, he morally did the right thing. Les Miserables has many conundrums like this for Valjean. He eventually breaks his parole to start a new, better life. This causes Javert to start a many year search for him. Many years later Valjean is the mayor of a thriving town and goes by the name of Monsieur Madeleine. He owns a warehouse that hires woman to work and keeps them off of the street and he also helps the town folk whenever possible. A new inspector comes to town and it is none other than Javert. Javert thinks he recognizes Monsieur Madeleine and gets a clue that this man might be Valjean. However, at the same time, another officer claims that he has captured Valjean, so Javert tell Valjean of his mistake and apologizes. Javert then informs him that this man was going to be sentenced with no chance of release. Again, Valjean has a conflict. Legally he should turn himself in. Morally, he should turn himself in , so that this innocent man does not suffer for no fault of his own. But, if he turns himself in the warehouse will be shut down and all the employed women will have nowhere to go. So, morally he should also stay at the warehouse. Thus, this does
King Jr.’s point on the differences between legal and moral was almost spot on. This is still an issue many face today and have faced in the past. One of the hardest choices is choosing between what your heart (moral) tells you to do and your brain (legal). This reminded me of a popular musical/movie called Les Miserables. It starts at a chain gang prison where the main character, Jean Valjean, is just finishing his 19 year sentence. He originally was charged with stealing, but got more time added to his sentence because he tried to escape. From looking at these bare facts like the prison guard, Javert, it seems the Jean Valjean was a criminal and he did break the law. However, what Jean Valjean stole was a loaf of bread to feed his sister’s starving son. So, while he was legally in the wrong, he morally did the right thing. Les Miserables has many conundrums like this for Valjean. He eventually breaks his parole to start a new, better life. This causes Javert to start a many year search for him. Many years later Valjean is the mayor of a thriving town and goes by the name of Monsieur Madeleine. He owns a warehouse that hires woman to work and keeps them off of the street and he also helps the town folk whenever possible. A new inspector comes to town and it is none other than Javert. Javert thinks he recognizes Monsieur Madeleine and gets a clue that this man might be Valjean. However, at the same time, another officer claims that he has captured Valjean, so Javert tell Valjean of his mistake and apologizes. Javert then informs him that this man was going to be sentenced with no chance of release. Again, Valjean has a conflict. Legally he should turn himself in. Morally, he should turn himself in , so that this innocent man does not suffer for no fault of his own. But, if he turns himself in the warehouse will be shut down and all the employed women will have nowhere to go. So, morally he should also stay at the warehouse. Thus, this does