- 最后登录
- 2010-8-4
- 在线时间
- 28 小时
- 寄托币
- 755
- 声望
- 0
- 注册时间
- 2006-4-28
- 阅读权限
- 30
- 帖子
- 13
- 精华
- 0
- 积分
- 771
- UID
- 2209997
 
- 声望
- 0
- 寄托币
- 755
- 注册时间
- 2006-4-28
- 精华
- 0
- 帖子
- 13
|
TOPIC: ISSUE17 - "There are two types of laws: just and unjust. Every individual in a society has a responsibility to obey just laws and, even more importantly, to disobey and resist unjust laws."
WORDS: 535
TIME: 2:27:17
DATE: 2007-3-4
In accordance with this statement, every individuals in a society has the obligation to obey just laws as well as to disobey unjust ones. In an objective observation, this statement too extremely suggests some types of unreasonable behaviors, especially in two perspectives. First, it is unwise to assume that any laws can be recognized as either just or unjust. And secondly, it rudely proposes a measure, which would be unproductive to the whole society while it would mean a latent threat to the legal transformation.
At the first glance, it would be too complicated for almost everybody to judge whether a law is just or unjust. The issue of the impartiality of any law involves nearly every element of a society, especially the individuals' views of world or personal liberties. One compelling example lending credibility to this attitude is the contentious issue of homosexuality. Modern citizens may view the laws allowing homosexuality as an ordinary symbol, which presents an indispensable right of a human being to choose personal lifestyle. Nevertheless, some individuals with specific religious beliefs are susceptible to see such laws entitled people a homosexuality choice as unjust. Another element dealt with the evenhandedness of a law might be one's private concern, or involvement. One of the most significant goals of a democratic society is to use laws to make a compromise among the conflicting interests. However, usually it would be unrealistic to produce a perfect solution that satisfies everybody. Consider for example, the laws abolishing slavery might boost the economic transformation of the North, and the merchandisers living in North would think the laws just. At the same time, the same laws destroyed the basis of farming economy in South, which resulted in an view that view these laws unjust among farmers in South. In short, the impartiality of a law is subjective, taking account on personal judgment which will surely influence the disinterest of it.
Another elemental problem, which lies behind the proposal of disobeying unjust law, is that it brought about a great threat to the function of a society. Actually, it can do much more damage instead of the intended help. Take criminal law for example, it is not fleckless and may seem unjust in some details. Yet government should adhere to this law severely, considering the great cost and instability of disobeying this law.
Furthermore, it is specious to argue that through disobeying unjust laws people can easily go even farther to a dangerous violation of laws. Returning to the homosexuality example mentioned above, it is obviously unreasonable to protest the homosexuality by splitting the legal married gays or lesbians. If such behavior goes just a little further, it may lead an action against the legislators or executives which will probably cause a turmoil in a society.
In sum, since the functions of laws is to strike a balance among different groups, the diversity of inclinations among people usually lead to an opposing view of the imperialness of a law. Hence, radical actions such as resistance or disobedience can barely find substantial grounds for them regarding all these subjective influences. And disobedience is never encouraged-even should be banned-as long as the legal rights of others cannot be fully preserved. |
|