Unjust Law example essay topic

Are we morally obliged to obey unjust laws? Do we have to follow a law regardless of how unfair, unjust, or immoral it may be? The only reason that these laws must be followed are because they are the law. But if your " re caught in a situation were the "unjust" law needs to be broken would you create civil disobedience and take a stand for what you believe in? An unjust law according to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is "Any law that degrades human personality is unjust."An unjust law is a code that a numerical or power majority compels a minority group to obey, but does not make binding on itself". An unjust law according to Henry David Thoreau is, .".. if is of such a nature that it requires you to be the agent of injustice to another, then, I say, break the law".

He strongly believes that an individual should stand up to the government and break a law if it concurs injustice to them. Despite the consequences, an individual should do what they personally believe is right. Thoreau, .".. paid no taxes poll-tax for six years", but "never declined paying the highway tax, because I am as desirous of being a good neighbor". Despite the consequences, he would stand firm in his opinions and beliefs. In turn Thoreau spent one night in prison, but felt that his personal convictions outweighed any punishment. The argument Thoreau builds is for the importance of civil disobedience.

Iin his speech "Civil Disobedience" demonstrates why a person should violate an unjust law. I define an unjust law as one that degrades human personality through the unfair suffering of a minority group at the hands of a majority group. A law that causes a person to suffer simply because they do not agree with this majority is an incorrect and unjust law. In today's society, civil disobedience is created when the government clashes with the general public. Disobedience is disruptive to the "harmony" of society. As seen in the works of Martin Luther King Jr.'s "Letter from Birmingham Jail", and "Civil Disobedience" by Henry David Thoreau disobedience is vital to society.

The letter and essay, respectively, support the claim that an individual is justified and should engage in civil disobedience if he or she feels they are violating their conscience by obeying a certain law. Growing up decades after the civil rights movement and creating laws that state everyone is equal I never thought I be caught in unjust situation where I would have to take a stand for unjust situation. Growing up in Hawaii I never really experienced an unjust situation. In Hawaii Asian Americans are the majority and other races like African Americans an Caucasians are the minority. In my sophomore year at La Pietra, the school offered a spring break trip to London. I thought this was an opportunity that I couldn't possibly pass up.

I signed up along with some of my friends. When we got to London, n we were greeted by our tour guide Mark and he took us on a walking tour of part of London. Being in London was a great experience except for one point in the trip that changed my life. Part of the time during the week we could go off on our own and go shopping or t attend an art museum if we wanted. My friends and and I decided to go to Harrold's which is a huge well known department store in London. I was walking around the store with my friend Nicole just looking around and we came to the level with the different dinning accessories and I wanted to buy some shot glasses for my brother since he collects them.

I waited for a sales person to come to by help us. No came so we stood in line to ask for help and when we got to the front and a Caucasian lady cut in front of us. So I tap her on the shoulder and said excuse me Miss I was in line. She turned around and said why would you be in line what can you buy in here? I said a lot of things and I turned and walked away.

I went to find another sales associate to help me. I decided the best way to handle the situation was to walk away and not make a scene. It was just one ignorant person. Being a Christian I decided to forgive and forget the situation in all. The lady will mature and learn what she said that day was wrong. I'll learn that even in this century there are people who still pre-judge people based on race, age and gender.

King says, "One has not only a legal, but a moral responsibility to obey just laws. Conversely, one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws". It seems I have arrived at the same conclusion King has. It is not only moral, but a moral obligation to disobey unjust laws when confronted with a situation that in some way discriminates you. Martin Luther King Jr. makes a very good distinction between Civil Disobedience and breaking the law. He says, "One who breaks an unjust law must do so openly, lovingly, and with willingness to accept the penalty".

How can it be best to sit in the face of an unjust law? Can anyone say civil disobedience oversteps its bounds by exploiting the basic human right of freedom of expression? Neither Martin Luther King Jr. nor Thoreau ignored those rights guaranteed by the Constitution. An all-powerful government-one fortunate enough to govern the most humble and accepting subjects-doesn't have a clear motive to be righteous. A responsibility falls upon people who can speak out: they must speak out! When you look to the past and witness the dissenters of the law that had the courage and perseverance to undertake any task and bear any hardship.

Even in the variety of circumstances described in the "Letter from Birmingham Jail" and "Civil Disobedience", governments were ineffective in doing their duty effectively since society was too dynamic for them. Such literary works show why civil disobedience should be respected as a necessary force for reform. The time is always right to break an unjust law..