Legality ≠ Morality
“One has not only a legal but a moral responsibility to obey just laws. Conversely, one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws” (MLK, 191-193). The world is not perfect, it is flawed and has many things that need to be changed, including the unjust laws that are inflicted onto society. If no one makes a stand for these issues that “[are] out of harmony with the moral law”, things will not go anywhere, and the world will stay where it is. Therefore, we do still have a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws, to stay concerned about it in the 21st century, and to be safe and smart about how these changes are induced. If actions aren’t taken, the world will remain unjust. As Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote in …show more content…
“I found that an uprising becomes about 50 percent more likely to fail if it turns to violence. It seems to be the case that once protesters pick up guns, it legitimizes the state's use of overwhelming violence in response” (Fisher). As Fisher also states, use of violence also tends to reduce the public’s support for an uprising. An example of how injustice was dealt with peaceful protests was the “Singing Revolution” (1986-1991). Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania were wanting independence from the Soviet Union; protestors gathered in the streets, singing songs of national pride, which had been outlawed by Soviet occupiers. After four years of peaceful demonstrations, and the deaths of 14 of the protestors in Lithuania, all three countries gained their sovereignty. Goals were set and achieved, all done using nonviolent means of action. There were minor deaths, but if done violently, the numbers would have increased significantly. There are two types of laws: just and unjust. I believe everyone has a responsibility to obey just laws and, even more of a responsibility to disobey and oppose unjust laws. Society should continue to maintain the moral right to resist against what is wrong, especially in the 21st century, to remain concerned, and to effectively protest in a premeditated and peaceful way. The world will only become more just if people take a stand, and if people do not think to care or act on important matters, nothing will be achieved. Just because something is legal, it does not mean it is
“One has not only a legal but a moral responsibility to obey just laws. Conversely, one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws” (MLK, 191-193). The world is not perfect, it is flawed and has many things that need to be changed, including the unjust laws that are inflicted onto society. If no one makes a stand for these issues that “[are] out of harmony with the moral law”, things will not go anywhere, and the world will stay where it is. Therefore, we do still have a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws, to stay concerned about it in the 21st century, and to be safe and smart about how these changes are induced. If actions aren’t taken, the world will remain unjust. As Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote in …show more content…
“I found that an uprising becomes about 50 percent more likely to fail if it turns to violence. It seems to be the case that once protesters pick up guns, it legitimizes the state's use of overwhelming violence in response” (Fisher). As Fisher also states, use of violence also tends to reduce the public’s support for an uprising. An example of how injustice was dealt with peaceful protests was the “Singing Revolution” (1986-1991). Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania were wanting independence from the Soviet Union; protestors gathered in the streets, singing songs of national pride, which had been outlawed by Soviet occupiers. After four years of peaceful demonstrations, and the deaths of 14 of the protestors in Lithuania, all three countries gained their sovereignty. Goals were set and achieved, all done using nonviolent means of action. There were minor deaths, but if done violently, the numbers would have increased significantly. There are two types of laws: just and unjust. I believe everyone has a responsibility to obey just laws and, even more of a responsibility to disobey and oppose unjust laws. Society should continue to maintain the moral right to resist against what is wrong, especially in the 21st century, to remain concerned, and to effectively protest in a premeditated and peaceful way. The world will only become more just if people take a stand, and if people do not think to care or act on important matters, nothing will be achieved. Just because something is legal, it does not mean it is