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 unjust and just laws because an unjust law is a law that degrades human personality, while a just law uplifts human personality. What does that mean? It means that unjust laws are created by the majority with the intention to devalue the minority. A just law on the other hand, is created with the intention of uplifting all parties with the intention of safety, security and advancement.
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?
In my opinion, I believe it is important to make the distinction between just and unjust laws. How we shape our views on laws, question them and follow them, is all based on our own moral view of the court system. Most people go throughout life not breaking any laws, because they are only faced with an option of morals and not an option of justice. This affects people’s daily life and view on abiding by the law, morally a person knows they should not drink and drive so they won’t. On the other hand, the court system will arrest us as we attend PEACEFUL protests or sit-ins, though it is our literal constitutional right, they are still arresting people peacefully protesting, because their issue is the protest itself, they never cared for whether it was peaceful or not. This can really alter people’s perception of morality, especially in politics.
Based on our discussion of Question 1, give an example 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 just law would be no smoking on airplanes, this is because the reality of it is, you can smoke once you land or before you enter the airport. The smoke in a closed environment can not only affect other passengers but also the flight crew, who fly all day. This is a just law because it protects all parties, though the person who may want to smoke might be upset, science outweighs feelings, especially in regards to the law. An example of an unjust law would be the use and need of monetary bail. A defendant should not have to sit and rot in jail for an alleged crime just because he is poor and cannot afford the bail, rather than the richer counterparts who are able to pay the bail and stay in the embrace of their family and friends beforehand.
