1. An unjust law according to MLK, is any law that degrades a person, setting their value as less than. It breeds inequality and infringes on the basic human rights. A just law, consecutively, is a law that is in accordance with, or strengthens, moral code. a law that emphasizes equality and human worth.
  2. This is a substantially important idea, and especially during this time as 6 of our lawmakers have recently featured in a video advocating for members of the military community to disobey an unlawful order. While an “order” and a law are very different things, they are two sides of the same coin as an edict issued by an authority, followed by the ordinary man. As the issues that spark these debates persist in our government today, it is important to remember that instead of questioning unjust laws and unlawful orders, blindly following them would have had the full power of segregation on our necks today, women would not be able to vote, let alone be appointed to places of authority in the government, and we would still have oppressive child labor. Society can only move forward when ordinary people look at an unjust law and say, “this is not my world”.
  3. One example of an unjust law in the US is the bail system; In most U.S. states, people arrested for a crime must pay cash bail to be released while awaiting trial. If they can’t afford it, they stay in jail, even though legally they are innocent until proven guilty. This is incredibly unjust because it punishes poverty and rewards the rich, distorting equality and harming the persons dignity. those who do not have the money for bail cannot do anything but stay incarcerated until your case is resolved, while those with the money go free while the case is processed and held.
    One example of a just law is The Americans with Disabilities Act, which prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities and requires public places, employers, and transportation systems to be accessible. This is just because it strengthens equality to a group that had long been denied access and opportunity and it uplifts the human condition by ensuring people with disabilities can participate fully in society.

2 thoughts on “discussion post 13.1”

  1. Hey Danyial, you explained MLK’s ideas about just and unjust laws really clearly. I like how you emphasized the connection between fairness, dignity, and moral values — that’s exactly what MLK was trying to show. Your point about blindly following orders or laws is especially strong. It’s true that if people never questioned unfair rules, we would still be stuck with things like segregation or child labor today.

    I also think your examples were very well chosen. The bail system is a powerful example of an unjust law because it really does punish people based on their income. And using the ADA as a just law makes sense since it protects people’s rights and makes society more accessible. Overall, you did a great job connecting MLK’s philosophy to real issues we face today.

  2. Hi Danyial,
    Your point about how blind obedience would have kept things like segregation and child labor alive is so important. It’s easy for people to say ‘just follow the law,’ but history shows that progress only happens when people have the courage to call out laws that are morally broken. I also thought your comparison between military orders and government edicts was a really interesting way to look at modern politics.

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