Should Civil Disobedience Be Violent or Non-Violent free essay sample

Rishi Wadhwani Due date: 02/05/12 Should Civil disobedience be violent or non-violent? Civil disobedience is the refusal to obey certain laws, demands and commands of the government. According to the etymology, civil disobedience has been present since the division of political power. There are many reasons why violent civil misbehaviour can be encouraged; nevertheless, the use of violence to treat with citizens can have a negative re-percussion. Firstly, the use of violence to punish individuals refusing to follow the law is one of the most common methods of fighting against conflictive citizens. In many cases, violence is the only solution: â€Å"[A]n unjust law is itself a species of violence. Arrest for its breach is more so This I do by breaking the law and by peacefully submitting to arrest and imprisonment. † (Mahatma G. 1942, Non-violence in Peace and War). If the violence is used without any aim to kill or injure anyone, it is justified. We will write a custom essay sample on Should Civil Disobedience Be Violent or Non-Violent? or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The American and French revolution ended with peace-full democracies. On the other hand, the use of violence can lead to a negative image of the government; this could lead to the loss of respect and control. The use of violence leads to innocent people getting involved in violent acts: â€Å"[T]he ultimate weakness of violence is that it is a descending spiral, begetting the very thing it seeks to destroy. Instead of diminishing evil, it multiplies it Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that. † |(1967/2011 Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community? , pp. 62–63). | Furthermore, the only way to break down the circle of violence is to protest peacefully, in many cases the government applies rules that do not alter to the nature of the citizens, this leads to conflicts. This is a idea that I share with Henry David Thoreau. In 1850, he stated that if a plant cannot live according to its nature, it can be fatal. To conclude I believe that Civil disobedience should be treated in a more politically ethical manner, meaning that violence should be avoided as much as possible. Sometimes words are more powerful than actions: â€Å"Say what you want but you NEVER say it with violence! (2003). The use of violence only leads to more violence and conflicts. Sources: David Thoreau H. , (1850), Civil Disobedience and Other Essays Retrieved from: http://www. goodreads. com/work/quotes/522004-civil-disobedience-and-other-essays Mahatma G. (1942) Non-violence in Peace and War. Retrieved from http://www. quotationspage. com/quotes/Mahatma_Gandhi/ |Luther King, Mar tin, Jr. , 1967, Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community? , pp. 62–63. | Way, G, (2003), Retrieved from: http://www. goodreads. com/author/show/1218557. Gerard_Way