Take a Stand

Day in and day out we observe certain problematic behavior. Although we may not always confront these behaviors, subconsciously, we decide whether or not they are right. Individuals must not be bystanders to injustice. We must offer solutions to the problems thrown at us. Using our sense of right versus wrong we must stand up and fight against injustice, or it will never end.

By taking a stand against wrongdoings when we see them, it creates a storm of opportunity for others to join. Taking value in our morals and our conscience's decision of right versus wrong we become strong organizations against corruption. Henry David Thoreau in the second part of his essay “Civil Disobedience” asks us whether or not we should be content to obey unjust laws, or “endeavor to amend them” (Thoreau 5). We, as humans, do not “rest satisfied knowing that [we] are cheated” (Thoreau 4), and we should not. We need to fight for what we believe in whether or not we are part of the majority. As Stephanie Ericsson quotes in her essay “The Ways We Lie”, “You've got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything” (Ericsson 6). Even if being a part of the minority doesn't put a dent in the injustice, it will at least open the eyes of people who would never have realized they were being cheated. By identifying wrongdoings in our world we remain active in our duties as humans.

In some cases, like in the cases of the migrant farmers of John Steinbeck's book “The Grapes of Wrath”, there truly is no eliminating injustice. As hard as the people attempt to stand up for themselves they cannot escape the wrath of banks, technology, or native Californians. The people cannot even catch a break at the car dealership where dealers jack up the price of cars by pu...

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...d this man would still be dishonest to his customers. He fixed the leak in a few days, and hopefully learned a lesson – don't con your customers.

Rome wasn't built in a day, and injustice will not be defeated in one day either. We must persevere through corruption, and mistreatment to guide our fellow man towards justice. On the path of fighting injustice we may be defeated, but opening eyes to the corruption we face is well worth it. Our moral values will guide us through the path of unjustness. The monster that is injustice stands little chance against the swords of equity.

Works Cited

Ericsson, Stephanie. “The Ways We Lie.” 50 Essays. Ed. Samuel Cohen. New York: Bedford St. Martin’s, 2004. Print.

Thoreau, Henry David."Civil Disobedience". New York: Signet Classics, 1980. Print.

Steinbeck, John. “The Grapes of Wrath.” New York: Penguin Books, 1976. Print.