1. Martin Luther King Jr. put it simply in his “Letter from Birmingham Jail.” He said that a just law is one that feels right deep down because it lines up with what we inherently know is morally right—it respects everyone’s dignity. It’s like a rule that uplifts people and treats everyone fairly. On the flip side, an unjust law is one that just feels wrong because it treats people badly and doesn’t mesh with those core moral beliefs we hold. King pointed out that laws enforcing racial segregation were classic examples of unjust laws because they made some people feel inferior to others, messing with their sense of self-worth.
2. Absolutely, it’s crucial. When we can tell the difference between just and unjust laws, it changes how we see our role in the community and our actions. It’s not just about following rules; it’s about supporting laws that make everyone’s life better. On a bigger scale, it shapes our society. Laws that are fair create a peaceful and just society where everyone feels valued. Politically, it’s just as impactful. When people believe that the laws are fair, they’re more likely to follow them and get involved in making their community better. But if laws seem unfair, it can lead to frustration and even protests, which can shake up society.
3. Consider the voter ID laws as an Unjust law example. These laws can seem unfair because they hit harder on minorities, the elderly, and those without a lot of money—people who might not have easy access to IDs. This makes it harder for them to vote. According to King, that’s an unjust law because it doesn’t lift everyone up; instead, it puts barriers in front of them, making them feel less valued and less able to participate in democracy. On the other hand, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is a shining example of a just law. This law came into play to stop discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. It’s about giving everyone a fair shot, no matter who they are or where they come from, ensuring everyone is treated with respect and given equal opportunities. This kind of law really embodies what King talked about—a law that uplifts humanity by ensuring everyone is respected and free to live their best life. Understanding these types of laws helps us see how deeply laws can affect our everyday lives and the fabric of our society. It’s about more than rules—it’s about building a community where everyone feels they belong and can thrive.

1. According to MLK, how can we tell the difference between just and unjust laws? Understanding this question 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 just and unjust laws since just laws are man-made codes that square with the moral law or the law of God (while also being laws that uplift human personality), while unjust laws are laws are codes that are out of harmony with the moral law (while also being laws that degrade human personality). This essentially means that just laws are laws that abide by natural human morality and are laws that allow people to be who they are so long as they don’t harm or prevent other people from being who they are. Just laws provide safety and freedom of expression to everyone. Unjust laws are essentially laws that do not abide by natural human morality and are laws that limit people from being who they are, despite the fact that they aren’t harming anyone or limiting other people from being who they want to be with their personality. Unjust laws limit both the safety of freedom of expression of people who are doing no wrong.  

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 personally do believe that knowing the difference between a just and unjust law can greatly affect how people live their lives both individually and as a society. The reason why I saw this is because someone determining whether or not a law that is active or is being considered is just or unjust can determine what types of actions are taken. If congress wants to pass a law for all states where anyone who goes over 40mph per hour in their cars should get a $100 ticket fine because they believe it is just, you will very likely see many states and their representatives have two opposing sides with arguments occurring. One side would argue against that law because they will see that law as unjust, while the other side would argue for it since they would see the law as just. Having a distinction between just and unjust laws can greatly affect our politics, since people are more likely to join the political party that advocates for laws that they consider just rather than the opposite.  

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 in the U.S today would be speed limits that are enforced within highways. These speed limits are done in order to prevent people from going up to unnecessary speed on highways in order to prevent unnecessary accidents and deaths. This reflects them being a just law since these laws are just laws that square with the law of god to prevent people from taking unnecessary lives. An example of unjust laws in the U.S today would be having to deal with inflation increases. These laws essentially make it tougher for people with lower amounts to money to be able to continue to live their normal lives and prevents them from being able to ascend past their current position in life. What makes these laws unjust is the fact that they degrade human personality by treating them as if they are made of money. 

1.According to MLK, how can we tell the difference between just and unjust laws?-As stated by Martin Luther king Jr. a law which is aligned with a moral law that is uplifting in a person is known as a “just” law. An unjust law on the other hand would be a law that is not aligned with moral law and completely disregards basic human right. MLK also says that law is unjust if it’s applied unequally for certain people or when a law is created without the minority giving their thoughts on who the law concerns since minorities will also be affected by whatever decision is made.

2.In your view, is this an important distinction (between just and unjust laws)? Do you think it makes a difference in the way of someone (as an individual or our society as a whole) lives their lives? Can it affect our politics?-I do believe it is an important distinction between just and unjust laws. One of the main reasons that the distinction is so important is because the distinction can cause/motivate people to resist, protest, and even go against certain laws if they feel it is unjust, like with the civil rights movement. This distinction also helps shape our society and affects our politics because the laws created are heavily influenced to make sure that they are fair to everyone, and that is due to just and unjust laws.

3.Based on our discussion of question 1, give an example of 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 that we do currently have is certain laws that suppress many voters in minority communities because the laws deny certain groups to participate since there are so many things needed in order to bot which many people that live in minority communities do not have. An example of just law would be something like the ADA, ls also known as “The Americans disabilities act” and in this all people are treated fairly and equally with access to the same facilities, food, etc. By MLK standards this is perfect and considered a just law, because all the individuals regardless of who they are end up all being treated you the same.

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.
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?
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).