1. According to MLK the difference between just and unjust laws are that Just laws are man-made codes that square with the moral law while unjust laws are a code that is out of harmony with the moral law.

2. Just and unjust laws could make a difference in a way that someone lives there lives because the law can affect them in a good and bad way. The law can also affect there morals and how they present themselves as a whole. It can also affect our politics by showing bias and unfairness between different minorities and and societies.

3. An example of an Unjust law is the jim crow law. This law was unjust because it was made specifically for black people. It was made to legalize racial segregation between the black and white folk. An example of a just law would be the right to vote. This law was Just because it gave everyone the right to vote.

1. According to MLK the difference between a just law and an unjust law is that a Just law is a manmade code that squares away with the moral law or law of God. It is a law that uplifts human personality. An unjust law is a code that is out of harmony with the moral law. It is any law that degrades human personality. If its morally right, it’s just if it goes against morals its unjust.
2. I do believe that it is important to be able to distinguish what is considered a just or unjust law. Knowing what is morally correct helps us determine wrong from right. It can affect our politics because it helps us when having to make certain decisions when it comes to us having to vote these distinctions help us see which laws or candidates have their head and hearts in the right place.
3. An example of a just law could be same sex marriage because it is morally correct to let people marry their loved ones despite what they identify as. Having to have an ID in order to vote is a bit unlawful because there are a lot of minority voters who are less likely to have certain paperwork in order to receive an ID. Not to mention in order to get an ID it costs money some people would have to choose between maybe eating that day or getting an ID.

According to MLK, how can we tell the difference between just and unjust laws? Understanding these questions is the most important part of this module, and I will ask it again during our second exam.

According to MLK, we can tell the difference between a just and unjust law by following whether the law is morally sound at its core.  If a law demeans, belittles, or causes harm to others, one’s conscious should be able to tell it is unjust, while a just law will aim to protect all people equally.

In your view, is this an important distinction (between just and unjust laws), do you think it makes a difference in the way someone (as an individual, or our society as a whole) lives their lives? Can it affect our politics?

I think it is a very important distinction between just and unjust laws.  I feel that it can make a difference in the way that someone lives their life and that it can affect our politics heavily.  If a law is deemed by a community to be unjust, then they will likely campaign to make others aware of it and make efforts to change it.  A prime example in recent history was that gay marriage was not legally recognized across the entire country, though that did not stop lgbtq people from living their authentic lives with their partners even if some were more cautious about their visibility to maintain their safety.  The community fought to prove that the lack of marriage equality was unjust and was eventually able to gain legal protection for same sex marriage, showing a connection to politics.

Based on our discussion of Question 1, give an example each, of an unjust and just law, in the US today. Explain what makes it unjust or just (using MLK’s definition of those two types of laws).

An example of an unjust law would be Alabama’s Human Life Protection Act, which bans abortions at every stage of pregnancy, with no exceptions to be made for rape, incest, or mental illness.  It also made it a crime for doctors to perform abortions on patients, except in a case of medical emergency, though even those exceptions are difficult to prove.  This bill was initially stopped by federal court until 2022, when Roe v. Wade was overturned, allowing it to go into effect.  This is unjust because it stops those who are pregnant from being able to choose for themselves what to do in the case of needing an abortion and creates scenarios where they are more likely to engage in unsafe or unregulated measures if they are desperate for the procedure.  It is unjust because it creates a scenario where it can cause harm to those who need the procedure for a number of reasons with virtually no exceptions to be made.

An example of a just law would be traffic laws that create a series of rules and guidelines for drivers.  These are meant to be enacted equally among the driving population in order to create safety for everyone on the road by following the same speed limits, traffic signs, and general rules of the road.  They maintain the human condition by keeping all people safe, whether they be drivers or pedestrians, and do not single out any particular community or type of person in an unfair way.

1. According to MLK, the difference between unjust and just laws is whether these laws support or violate moral principles. He states in his Letter from Birmingham Jail that 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.” This pushes his beliefs to resist unfair laws and ways that are harmful to certain groups of people and work towards changing and bettering them. 
2. In my personal opinion, there is a very important distinction between unjust and just laws. It influences the way an individual lives and views their life in various ways. An example of this would be in social dynamics. By challenging and addressing laws that advocate for inequality or oppression in certain communities can involve a lot of political engagement to work towards reforming these unjust laws. This can affect our politics by understanding the difference between these laws and recognizing how we can push our politics to do better. This will further encourage more people to get involved in politics to make a difference. 
3. An example of just laws in the US today would be the civil rights act of 1964. This law makes it so there is no discrimination of any individual on their race, religion, or sex when it comes to employment. The reason for this law being put in place was to respect basic human rights and morals between every individual. Each person deserves a fair chance at a job role or whatever position regardless of what they look like or identify as. An example of an unjust law in the US today is certain mandatory minimum sentences for nonviolent drug offenses. This law is unjust because it enforces systematic inequality within the system. It also typically directly affects minorities and lower class individuals, undermining unfairness and unequal treatment. 

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1. Martin Luther king expressed the difference between just and unjust least. To do so, he pointed out to certain cases where something taped by the word “legal” was in fact, breaking the law completely. He used Adolf Hitler as an example for his argument. He explained how Hitler killed thousands of Jewish and it was something “legal”. But, what is legal about killing someone? That is exactly the ironic idea the MLK was trying to express in his letter. 

To me, an unjust law is a law that goes against the moral effect of something. A law that isn’t built to be applied to everyone as equal. 

2. Indeed, the distinction between these two laws is extremely important, because it is a way to let the people assimilate that not everything that is known as “legal” is actually like that. In the same order, not every act is necessarily an “illegal” act. To me, and as MLK explained in his letter, it depends on what is being labeled as legal or not. 

3. An example of an unjust law is the imposing of bails. To me, bails are in some cases, injustice because there are a lot of people that are now behind bars because they couldn’t pay their bails. However, if someone rich commits a crime and the judge sets that person a bail, that person is more likely to walk out free after paying his/her bail. But, what about the poor offender? That person has to go back to prison to serve a lot of time for a petty crime, just because he/she could pay their bail. 

A just law is infraction tickets. If you get caught speeding then you get a ticket and there is no way out. You will have to go to court to pay your ticket. 

According to Martin Luther King “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.”

1. According to MLK, how can we tell the difference between just and unjust laws?

According to MLK, we can tell the difference between just and unjust laws because a just law uplifts or benefits the people, which makes it a moral law. An unjust law degrades another human being or minority, which is immoral.  

2. In your view, is this an important distinction (between just and unjust laws), do you think it makes a difference in the way someone (as an individual, or our society as a whole) lives their lives? Can it affect our politics?

I agree with MLK’s distinction between just and unjust laws. Laws are there to protect the people. If we have laws that degrade others because they are part of a minority, we push the narrative that we live in a country where equality is not achievable. As a society, justice cultivates mutual trust and respect among individuals and promotes peace. Injustice represents a deviation from the idea that America is the land of the free because unjust laws lead to individuals or groups being treated unfairly.  

This could affect politics because how could the people affected by these unjust laws respect and trust the political leaders of this country? Promoting unjust laws shows that they do not agree with society’s standard of acceptance and implies that they have evil intent against the citizens of this country. 

3. Based on our discussion of Question 1, give an example each of an unjust and just law in the US today. Explain what makes it unjust or just (using MLK’s definition of those two types of laws).

An example of a just law is Equal Rights. Everyone has the right to equal treatment and opportunity in the US. Discrimination is illegal under federal law, so people cannot be treated unfairly because of age, disability, national origin, race and color, religion or faith, and/or gender identity and sexual orientation. This applies to areas like work, education, and healthcare.  This law is just because it is moral to treat everyone equally and give them an equal opportunity. 

An example of an unjust law in the US today is Money Bail. We have two justice systems, one for the rich and the other for everyone else. For thousands of people who are arrested each year, the difference between freedom and jail depends solely on wealth status. Wealthy people can buy their pre-trial freedom, keep their employment, and live comfortably at home while awaiting their trial. A poor person must stay in jail for days, months, or even years until their case is seen in court and resolved. Those who are detained while awaiting trial are more likely to lose their jobs and homes and are unable to care for any dependent relatives.  This law is unjust because it is made to degrade or keep those who are poor down. 

1. According to MLK, how can we tell the difference between just and unjust laws? Understanding this questions is the most important part of this module, and I will ask it again during our second exam.

MLK suggests that the difference between just and unjust laws lies in their alignment with moral or natural law. Just laws are those that uphold human dignity, equality, and fairness, while unjust laws are those that violate these principles and perpetuate injustice. He emphasizes that just laws are rooted in moral principles and are in harmony with the ethical standards of society, whereas unjust laws contradict these principles and undermine the inherent rights and dignity of individuals.

1. In your view, is this an important distinction (between just and unjust laws), do you think it makes a difference in the way someone (as an individual, or our society as a whole) lives their lives? Can it affect our politics?

Yes, I believe the distinction between just and unjust laws is crucial as it directly impacts how individuals and society perceive and interact with the legal system. Recognizing this difference informs our understanding of moral responsibility and guides our actions in advocating for justice and equality. It influences how we engage with political processes and institutions, as we strive to uphold just laws and challenge unjust ones through activism, advocacy, and legal reform.

1. Based on our discussion of Question 1, give an example each, of an unjust and just law, in the US today. Explain what makes it unjust or just (using MLK’s definition of those two types of laws).

An example of an unjust law in the US today could be certain voter suppression laws that disproportionately target minority communities by imposing restrictive voting requirements, such as voter ID laws or reducing early voting hours. These laws undermine the principle of equality by disenfranchising marginalized groups and restricting their access to the democratic process, thus violating the moral imperative of fairness and equality. On the other hand, a just law could be the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. This law aligns with the moral principle of equality and promotes justice by protecting the civil rights and liberties of all individuals, regardless of their background or identity.

1. Based on MLK’s Letter from Birmingham jail, the difference between just and unjust laws are the moral principles and the way in which they uplift and serve humans in their best interest, and on the other hand unjust laws don’t serve humans for the better and are set to discriminate and are not in line with the moral principles. Unjust laws are in favor for segregation and unequal treatment of people based on their race, religious beliefs, and ethnic background.

2. I do believe that the distinction between just and unjust laws are important, and they could influence behavior, values, and political beliefs. These distinctions can shape and influence one’s morals and their motivation to participate in activism. Overall, it is important to understand the difference and recognize when there are groups of people who are experiencing injustice.

3. An example of an unjust law would be voter suppression laws that target minority communities, such as voter ID laws and reducing the voting hours. These unjust laws are in place to prevent minority communities from being able to participate in voting. An example of just a just law is the Civil Rights At of 1964. This law promoted equality and protected all communities of color, race, religion, and sex. It aligned with the moral principles of justice and guaranteed that everyone had equal access and were treated fairly and with respect.

According to MLK, how can we tell the difference between just and unjust laws?

1. “An unjust law is a human law that is not rooted in eternal law and natural law. Any law that uplifts human personality is just. Any law that degrades human personality is unjust.”

In your view, is this an important distinction (between just and unjust laws), do you think it makes a difference in the way someone (as an individual, or our society as a whole) lives their lives? Can it affect our politics?

2. This is a very important distinction between just and unjust laws, unjust laws is individually how people want to move for example segregation being a unjust law which doesn’t uplift human personality and is not natural law,

The way one lives their life does affect society as a whole if it’s injustice to other people 

Based on our discussion of Question 1, give an example each, of an unjust and just law, in the US today. Explain what makes it unjust or just (using MLK’s definition of those two types of laws).

3. A law today in the Us could be the protection of gender identity like the laws to protect LGBTQ+ or even the rights women have equal to men that prohibited discrimination compared to the earlier days. Like Martin Luther king jr said it upholds fairness and equality 

While a unlaw would be something that violates principals of fairness which would probably be maybe the difference in minorities and low income communities or even the things we learned about capitalism