Disobedience

The Statue of Liberty exists to symbolize AmericaЎЇs justice and liberty; although, the unjust system we abide by displays an obvious account of misrepresentation. Civil disobedience has been a recurrent issue in our society because many people oppose unjust laws and actions set upon our country. The government exists to provide good for the people by acknowledging what is in the best interest for the population. They seem to ignore the significant issues that affect us most and would rather invest their time and effort into other trivial predicaments. There is no backbone in history to support the claim that our nation governs and makes decisions through moral reasoning when that should be of the utmost importance. Although civil disobedience may be frowned upon, certain circumstances may entail objection and action against laws to enforce justice and moral foundations for the society.

Majority of AmericaЎЇs population often disagrees with civil disobedience because they may not experience the wrath of discrimination and hatred as where minorities are forced to face it everyday. Citizens who fall victim to bigotries in our society usually face difficulties when trying to be heard or taken seriously, and this frustration inevitably leads to acts of civil disobedience. In most cases, an action is necessary to make a point; without taking that extreme measure, it would be almost impossible to be heard. Therefore, it should not be a crime to stand up against the tide of injustice when a world of slavery, unnecessary harassment, and discrimination exists. The government seems to focus more on supporting corporate America instead of the minorities which further promotes acts of discrimination against the marginal groups.

The riots immediately following the Rodney King incident is an example of justified exploitations of civil disobedience because the African American community was outraged with the fact that four policemen who attacked and killed a man of the black race were acquitted of all charges and were allowed to suit back up into their uniforms (Poniewozik,1). On March 3, 1991, Rodney King was tasered, tackled, and beaten with batons by four LAPD officers. Los Angeles Mayor, Tom Bradly, said, The men who beat Rodney King do not deserve to wear the uniform of the LAPDÐŽ± (Rodney King). Would the outcome have been the same if it were a white man beated by four African American officers? Probably not. The governmentЎЇs lack of moral reasoning in this issue revealed the depth of discrimination which exists in America. President BushЎЇs response was simply, ÐŽoThe jury system has worked. WhatЎЇs needed now is calm respect for the lawÐŽ± (Rodney King). The African American community took Rodney King as a symbol of racism and since they were not given the opportunity to be heard, they sided with acts of violence. Justice did not exist in this issue and the government neglected the minorityЎЇs needs. Those officers should have been persecuted, but the power of racism set them free.

Martin Luther King Jr. and Henry David Thoreau were both strong believers of civil disobedience because they deemed in standing up for what is right, honest, and morally good. King had respect for all beings, regardless of race, sex, or color. America was suffering from extreme measures of discrimination during this time and it was King who set his foot down and demanded equality for all. (____) Thoreau was a strong believer in doing what was right; therefore, he rejected the idea of paying taxes. He thought the money collected from tax tolls were used to support the war, which he was against. By refusing to pay, he generally agreed to being sent to prison. He believed that by doing this, he was being true to himself and the country, proving that being disobedient to the law and suffering the consequences is better than falling into the category of ignorance.(_______) King and Thoreau are both significant figures in history who have made a strong impact in how our society flows today. They broke down the barriers of blind discrimination and made all things visible; they knew what was right and just and took matters into their own hands by taking action against society, which benefited everyone in and beyond their time.

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