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Essay biography of mahatma gandhi
American civil movement and civil disobedience
Brief biography of mahatma gandhi
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Civil Disobedience: Martin Luther King Jr, Gandhi, and the Legacy of Peace They Left Behind Peaceful protest has been present in society for over a hundred years. It has been introduced several times in the United States and beyond as a way for individual citizens to stand, calmly and united, against the forces that oppress them. By doing it this way instead of a more violent course of action, the protesters are showing their displeasure with what is happening in such a way that it sparks a change of the heart versus perhaps only a physical change. Civil disobedience is not easy but continues to be, however, beneficial to our society. In America during the early 1800s, with industrialization as well as fierce underlying tensions between …show more content…
Under the caste system, it was virtually impossible for anyone born in the lower class to escape such a harsh life of poverty or to get a decent job or wages. As such, those forced into the lower castes often remained there for the rest of their lives and were quite often discriminated against by those of the wealthier top tiers of the system. Unfortunately, another thing that pervaded India during this time was racism; often, the darker in skin color you were, the more you would be subjected to unfair treatment under not only other Indian people, but the British who owned India at the time. Much like Henry David Thoreau, Gandhi was a very firm believer in civil disobedience and encouraged his followers to stand peacefully against laws or treatment that they thought to be unjust. He was revered for these beliefs and it was through several non-violent protests that he was able to change so many people's views on the caste system. His birthday of October 2nd is also celebrated in India as a day of non-violence, which is fitting for this man who spent so much of his life trying to better his home country as well as the …show more content…
People of color were no longer satisfied with the poor treatment that they were enduring. Although segregation of public schools had ended, state law still allowed for segregation of public facilities such as lunch counters, bathrooms, and water fountains. Violence was also breaking out across the nation in the form of riots, church bombings, and scattered attacks on individuals of color, both by normal citizens and government officials. Civil rights activists Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale formed the Black Panther Party and began banding together, taking up arms in order to be able to defend one another against the all-too-common threat of racially-motivated police brutality. They also began a food distribution program for the disenfranchised in California, to empower them in achieving their end-goal of freedom. People of color all over the nation were angry and afraid, unsure of what to do when individuals were being killed or beaten every day, simply for their skin color. Malcolm X spoke on television about this kind of fear, the fear that every day might be your last simply because of prejudice. It was in that time that Martin Luther King Jr. began to lead peaceful marches, protests, sit-ins. He was relentless in his quest for peace. His iconic "I Have A Dream" speech touched thousands of
Mohandas Gandhi was a non-violent promoter for Indian independence.He was married young at 13,and went to London to go to law school.Gandhi got his degree there and was on his way to being a lawyer.He went to his first case,but couldn't even speak. Gandhi then got invited to South Africa from a businessman. Gandhi’s luck their was no good either.European racism came to him,after he got kicked off of a train,because he was “colored” and was holding a first class ticket.When Gandhi fought back because of it,was arrested and was sent to jail.After this, he became know as as a leader.Gandhi returned to India in 1896,and he was disgusted by it.British wanted them to wear their clothes,copy their manners,accept their standards of beauty,but Gandhi refused.Gandhi wanted people to live free of all class and wealth.Gandhi tried so hard and was more successful then any other man in India.They won independence in 1947. Gandhi’s non-violent movement worked because,Gandhi used clever planning, mass appeal, conviction, and compassion to win independence for India.
Gandhi’s nonviolent movement worked because he didn’t believe in segregation and didn’t follow the British’s rules for Indians. When coming back from prison in 1859, things changed in India. The people if India were forced to mimic the English on how they dressed, copy their manner and accept their standards of beauty. When hearing this, Gandhi didn’t accept it and started his movement. According to the background document,” he shed the cloths that made him look like a British lawyer and dressed in a poor man’s traditional loincloth.”(Background document) By do...
Gandhi once said “An eye for an eye and the whole world is blind.” This is true in most circumstances but there are exceptions. By comparing acts of nonviolent civil disobedience with acts of violent civil disobedience it is apparent that force or violence is only necessary to combat violence but never if it effects the lives of the innocent. A recurrent theme in each of these examples is that there is a genuine desire to achieve equality and liberty. However, one cannot take away the liberties of others in order to gain their own. Martin Luther King Jr. believed that political change would come faster through nonviolent methods and one can not argue his results as many of the Jim Crow laws were repealed. Similarly, through nonviolent resistance Gandhi was able to eventually free India from the rule of Britain. It is true that sometimes the only way to fight violence is through violence, but as is apparent, much can be said of peaceful demonstrations in order to enact change. Thus, it is the responsibility of we as individuals to understand that nonviolence is often a more viable means to an end than violence.
When we think of the word “Protest,” we may think of the events that have happened recently. Egypt, Turkey, Libya and other countries where citizens have come out to the streets protesting their government. Not all protesting approaches are like this. Many, throughout history, have been based around peaceful actions. This approach was used during one of the great line of protests in American history. The Civil Rights movement. Many leaders used peace to promote their cause and promoted the passing of laws such as the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The many leaders of this movement, Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, and others influenced others to join the strive for equality. One of these people that they influenced was John Lewis.
Despite the belief that fighting with violence is effective, civil disobedience has been tried throughout history and been successful. Fighting violence with violence leaves no oppertunity for peace to work. By refusing to fight back violently, Martin Luther King Jr. took a race of people, taught them the value of their voice, and they earned the right to vote. Henry David Thoreau presented his doctrine that no man should cooperate with laws that are unjust, but, he must be willing to accept the punishment society sets for breaking those laws, and hundreds of years later, people are still inspired by his words. Mohandas K. Gandhi lead an entire country to its freedom, using only his morals and faith to guide him, as well as those who followed him, proving that one man can make a difference. Civil disobedience is the single tool that any person can use to fight for what they want, and they will be heard. After centuries of questioning it, it appears that the pen truly is mightier than the sword.
Around the world many people wonder why people choose to protest topics they disagree with. Protesting can change political views, help society, stop government actions, and most importantly save lives. Protests are normally started by a person or people wanting to make a change and stand up for what they believe in. People have been protesting for years because it is effective.
The use of civil disobedience is a respectable way of protesting a governments rule. When someone believes that they are being forced into following unjust laws they should stand up for what they believe in no matter the consequences because it is not just one individual they are protesting for they are protesting for the well-being of a nation. Thoreau says ?to resist, the government, when its tyranny or its inefficiency are great and unendurable.? People should only let wrong and right be governed by what they believe not the people of the majority. The public should always stand for what is right, stand when they think a government is wrong, and trust in their moral beliefs.
There are Henry David Thoreau’s refusal to pay taxes in abhorrence of the U.S.’s institution of slavery, Mahatma Gandhi’s 240 mile walk protesting British rule and taxation over India, John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s ‘bed-ins’ against the Vietnam War, Martin Luther King Jr.’s commitment to the principle that, in his words, “the choice today is no longer between violence and nonviolence. It is either nonviolence or nonexistence.” These examples range from gestures designed to bring awareness and attract popular support to actions directed pointedly against an opposing force. Not all of these protests were entirely successful, though many, such as Gandhi’s, instigated great change. It remains to be seen whether many of today’s protests, be they march, rally, traffic blockage, boycott, or something else entirely will accomplish what they wish. The real question here not whether past, present, or future protests succeed, however, for there is value in taking a stance in victory or failure. Neither is the issue truly whether the beliefs driving that stance are right or wrong- people should have the right to believe and protest what they want. By definition, civil disobedience and ‘peaceful’ protesting do not directly harm others. So in the end, does peaceful protesting positively or negatively impact society? Can it truly create positive
One evening in December 1773 was the first documented protest within the colonies, later would evolve in the United States (US) known as the Boston Tea party. From the beginning of the U.S conception, protesting is indoctrinated in our history, speaking out against government and unfair labor practices. As our history goes when the cries of the people are not heard, we protest. The First Amendment to the United States Constitution prohibits the United States Congress from enacting legislation that would abridge the right of the people to assemble peaceably. (1) Citizens’ from the young to the old, know these words, regardless what part of the country you are from. However, the operative word is ‘peaceful’. The reason for using the word peaceful, is a reflection on the less than peaceful protest of the “Boston Tea Party”. Justified by extremist
Throughout history, during the late 18th century, early and mid 19th century, and even today, many people peacefully resisted laws they felt attacked their rights as a U.S. citizen and as a human. Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, and even the entire city of Baltimore, have all used peaceful protest to rally against an unjust or unfair law or situation they felt was surpressing them from the rights they have been given. In there efforts of their protests, they have positively effected our country today by deminishing segregation, kick-starting a fight against racism for generations and counting, and a drive to find equality between all types of people.
Dasa, Gadadhara Pandit. “Martin Luther King Jr. and Gandhi: The Liberating Power of Non-violence.” The Huffington Post. The Huffington Post., 21 Jan. 2014. Web. 13 May 2014.
After spending a night in jail for his tax evasion, he became inspired to write “Civil Disobedience.” In this essay, he discusses the importance of detaching one’s self from the State and the power it holds over its people, by refraining from paying taxes and putting money into the government. The idea of allowing one’s self to be arrested in order to withhold one’s own values, rather than blindly following the mandates of the government, has inspired other civil rights activists throughout history, such as Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King , Jr. Both these men fought against unjust laws, using non-violent, yet effective, methods of protest.
From Black Lives Matter protests to Pro-Gun protests- if you have an opinion there is a group willing to voice it with you. Civil disobedience is uncomfortable. It calls you to make a choice, to take a side or at least consider one seriously. While uncomfortable and awkward for the passerby, the right to peacefully protest is an important one that keeps free society from becoming stagnant. It forces not only the every day citizen to have an opinion, but also those in power to look closely at the decisions and impact of such
As Americans of the United States of America we live in a society where rebelling against our country is not wrong. Our country was created by people who rebelled against their government; therefore, documents such as the Declaration of Independence was created. Civil disobedience happens quite often here mainly about racism among ourselves.Racism among all age groups of all states has been a big problem in our country since the US was a country. Some are not happy about this at and have resorted to protesting violently;consequently, events such as the Ferguson Riots have happened in recent years regarding racism among police officers. There have been leaders of protests similar to this topic of civil disobedience. The two greatest yet peaceful
Gandhi is motivated by religious means; he believes that everyone is equal in God’s eyes. He gets involved in several movements for equality, and he stresses non-violence very strongly. The Indians are very mad because British rule continues to limit their rights. They are supposed to all get fingerprinted, and their marriage laws are invalid. Gandhi’s followers vow to fight their oppressors to the death, but he discourages them from violence.