Question

Hello ! i need ideas. i need peoples opinion about Martin L. King. and the letter he wrote from jail Specifically his opinion about just and unjust laws. . . Does every codified social law has to be in harmony with moral law? or not? why?

Answer 1

• Letter from Birmingham Jail” is addressed to several clergymen who had written an open letter criticizing the actions of Dr. King and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) during their protests in Birmingham. Dr. King tells the clergymen that he was upset about their criticisms, and that he wishes to address their concerns.
• He provides a moral reason for his presence, saying that he came to Birmingham to battle “injustice.” Because he believes that “all communities and states” are interrelated, he feels compelled to work for justice anywhere that injustice is being practiced.
• Dr. King believes the clergymen have erred in criticizing the protestors without equally exploring the racist causes of the injustice that is being protested.
• In his words: “A just law is a man made code that squares with the moral law or the law of God. An unjust law is a code that is out of harmony with the moral law.“
• Dr. Martin Luther King in his letter explains the difference between an unjust law and a just law. “Any law that uplifts human personality is just.
• In Martin Luther King’s opinion, we as members of the United States should obey just laws without hesitance. He claimed that, “one has not only a legal but a moral responsibility to obey just laws.” He also claimed, “one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws.” Unjust laws in his mind were no laws at all. They were laws placed here that needed to be broken.
• King felt that we should never obey an unjust law. He felt it necessary for us to obey unjust laws in non violent ways in order to gain civil rights, and that the supreme courts were not the way to solve segregation. He made this clear by coming to Birmingham in the first place. King thought it necessary to show direct action.
• He himself claimed, “Nonviolent direct action seeks to create such a crisis and foster such a tension that a community which has constantly refused to negotiate is forced to confront the issue.”
• In this quote King makes it clear that he is upset with the way Birmingham has handled the segregation issues, and that nonviolent direct action is the only resort. Sit ins, marches, etc. were now the only tools they could use to lead to negotiation. King chose this path because there were no other options.
• However,there is no objective way to determine whether is law just or unjust.There is no way to objectively say whether laws about abortion or same sex marriage,uplifits human personality or is rooted in eternal law.
• This means the idea of civil disobedience is dangerous as it gives permission to anyone to disobey the laws of the country simply because their moral values are not in accordance with the laws.
• Due to time limit,any remaning questions can be asked as another question,they will be answered,thankyou for your cooperation