question of whether the rioters have the duty to obey the law, and whether their civil disobedience is justified. In this essay, I am going to draw from Joseph Raz’s The Obligation to Obey: Revision and Tradition, and Martin Luther King Jr.’s Letter from Birmingham Jail to analyze whether the protestors have the duty to obey the law, and consider an objection from the social contract theory. I will ultimately argue that they do not have a duty to obey the law. I will also argue that their civil disobedience
religion, or any other matter that is projected into the field of our notice and interest, is a most rare thing --- if it has indeed ever existed."-Mark Twain It seems that Twain has been thinking about this his entire life considering the fact that this letter was found after he died. He plainly states to the reader that no one person really has their 'own' opinion truly. His main purpose is to get the reader to understand his reasoning and standpoint on this particular situation. 7. Why is paragraph 13
With two great writers, come two great pieces; “On The Duty Of Civil Disobedience”, by Henry David Thoreau, and Letter From Birmingham Jail, by Martin Luther King, Jr., both effectively explaining their opinions on justice. Though King’s letter was written almost 100 years later than Thoreau’s lecture, they are similar in many ways. While Thoreau deals with justice as it relates to government, King deals with justice as “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere” (262; par. 4). With both
wanted by all. Martin Luther King Jr. is a major iconic figured in the United States. He was vital contributor in attempting to give the african american people an equal opportunity to achieve the american dream. In his speech, titled “Letter from a Birmingham Jail”, he expresses not only his reasoning, but also his own opinion of what the american dream is. He gives examples to emphasize his point. His speech clearly accentuates the importance of freedom and equality, which is most definitely a
organized many non violent movements and speeches especially across the south. One of the most important pieces of history of the time was created in Birmingham, Alabama. Known as the Letter From Birmingham Jail. This letter was directed to eight clergymen who did not agreed with King’s way to approach the racial problem. As i read through the letter I found a specific pieces that I see as the
Civil rights activist and leader, Martin Luther King Jr., in “Letter from a Birmingham Jail,” expresses his frustration with the unjust laws of segregation that take away the equality promised to all Americans. He conveys a poignant tone to display the problem of racial segregation to both the “white moderates” and Civil Rights supporters. While raising awareness of racial segregation, King’s letter also serves to empower people to help the movement in its press for equality for all. King utilizes
Knowledge is considered power in today’s society but what happens when facts are used to in set fear? Through Martin Luther King’s “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” the country reformed in motion towards equality and freedom. In “Fast Food Nation,” Eric Schlosser sheds light on the issues of fast food chains and the American food production system. From George Orwell a new perspective is written in “1984”; a negative utopia is created when the tyrant government distorts history and truth to keep it’s
Martin Luther King Jr. wrote "Letter of Birmingham Jail" as a response to white Alabama clergymen who criticized his action as "unwise and untimely." They criticized King's organization and participation in the protest march against segregation in Birmingham. King's letter does not attempt to persuade the clergymen to side with civil rights activists, but rather to explain to them the need for direct action and open their eyes to the suffering of the Negro community. He does not consider himself
unprecedented campaign for voting rights and social equality, known today as the Birmingham Campaign. The Birmingham demonstrations were at the time, some of the largest and most prominent civil rights demonstrations in the history of the United States. With the assistance of the SNCC and the Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights, Dr. King and several SCLC officials organized extremely massive protests and demonstrations in Birmingham. These demonstrations were designed in order to bring maximum awareness
Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.” (King 13) in his powerful letter to the clergyman titled, “Letter From Birmingham Jail.” The application of this quote’s message and implication is not strictly limited to the segregated America that King was referring to. It could also be applied to