A
Assignment:
Martin Luther King, Jr. was many things, a civil rights activist, nonviolent protestor, organizer, teacher, son, husband, father, and a black man. Many forget that he was first, a Christian Southern Baptist minister and preacher. His religious faith informed his ethical actions. After reading selections from Martin Luther King, Jr.’s, Letters from the Birmingham Jail (http://search.proquest.com.libproxy.edmc.edu/docview/205008318), explore the role of Christian ethics in King’s actions during the turbulent times in the South in the 1960s. Consider the following:
- King was in Birmingham to address the issue of injustice by organizing a protest. Define the injustice and the protest and explain how Judeo-Christian ethics were applied to allow for civil disobedience. How was the injustice in Birmingham tied to all communities in the South?
- King lists four steps to nonviolent campaigns. Name them. How did these flow from King’s Christian ethical principles? How did King reconcile the “eye for an eye” Jewish ethical principle with the Christian “love one another” ethical principle of nonviolence?
- How do King’s ethical principles help him defend against the charges that his protests and law breaking were “untimely” considering the political situation in Birmingham at the time?
- Consider areas of conflict in the world today. Pick one and discuss how King’s actions and his ethical principles might resolve the issue.
| Assignment 2 Grading Criteria |
Maximum Points
|
| Defines the injustice and the protest and explains how Judeo-Christian ethics were applied to allow for civil disobedience. |
28
|
| Discusses how the injustice in Birmingham was tied to all communities in the South. |
16
|
| Identifies and defines non- Judeo-Christian ethical principles at work in the Birmingham community along with their proponents. |
24
|
| Names four steps of non-violence and discusses how these flow from King’s Christian ethical principles? |
24
|
| Reconciles the “eye for an eye” Jewish ethical principle with the Christian “love one another” ethical principle of nonviolence. |
20
|
| Discusses how Dr. King’s ethical principles help defend him against the charges that his protests and law breaking were “untimely” considering the political situation in Birmingham? |
20
|
| Considers areas of conflict in the world today and discusses how King’s actions and his ethical principles might resolve the issue in nations that do not follow Judeo-Christian ethical principles. |
24
|
Style (4 points): Tone, audience, and word choice
Organization (12 points): Introduction, transitions, and conclusion
Usage and Mechanics (12 points): Grammar, spelling, and sentence structure
APA Elements (16 points): In text citations and references, paraphrasing, and appropriate use of quotations and other elements of style |
44
|
| Total: |
200
|
Attach is the work that I have done. Apparently 75% of the wording is similar to someone else’s work. Please re-write what I have done.
The injustice that occurred in Birmingham was basically an ongoing battle between those that believed in civil rights equality for all and racists that believed one race is superior to others. As this area had a strong population of members of the KKK this lead to clashes between the groups, especially considering the head of the police at the time, “Bull” Connors was all for segregation of the races. These non-violent protestors were actually attacked by police dogs and powerful water hoses used for riots.
Judeo-Christian ethics stand for treating others in the same manner that an individual would want to be treated in, and this is completely against the segregation of the races. Every person was not being treated in the same manner as those that were white were reaping a great deal of benefits, such as better education and services than those who were darker skin. It was unfair and did not fit with the concept of being a “good Christian”. By protesting in a non-violent manner, they were working towards change.
This injustice in Birmingham was tied to all communities from the south by the fact that if injustice was allowed to happen in one area, it could or would happen to other areas. The only way to fight injustice was by taking a stand that it would not be tolerated and that things needed to change. Birmingham was able to act as a symbol for the much needed change.
The four steps to nonviolent campaigns that King lists are determining what is wrong, negotiating to try to make it right, self-purification after negotiations are not successful, and finally taking direct action. These steps flow from King’s Christian ethical principles by the fact that they are trying to work with the person that is causing the injustice and trying to find a peaceful way to be able to resolve the injustice. Being in touch with a person’s religion and not wanting to cause conflict does not mean that a person should just allow another to walk all over them, and ethically this is the best way to go about the process as peacefully as possible.
King’s response to how he reconciled the eye for an eye of Jewish ethical principle with the Christian “love one another” ethical principle of nonviolence by saying:
The old law of an eye for an eye leaves everybody blind. It is immoral because it seeks to humiliate the opponent rather than win his understanding; it seeks to annihilate rather than to convert. Violence is immoral because it thrives on hatred rather than love. It destroys community and makes brotherhood impossible.” (M. King & C. King, 2008, p. 73)
This quote is very telling on how an injustice and conflict over an incident can create more conflict to the point where it can harshly divide a community. Taking actions in the right, ethically sound manner would be a better way to help bridge the divide that formed over the injustice in the first place.
King response in the letter that he writes to those that charge that his protests and law breaking were “untimely” considering the political situation in Birmingham at the time help to explain his ethical principles on why he felt this was the right thing to do. “Several months ago our local affiliate here in Birmingham invited us to be on call to engage in a nonviolent direct-action program if such were deemed necessary. … Beyond this, I am in Birmingham because injustice is here” (King, n.d., para. 3-4). Ethically, King feels that he has an obligation to those that he has partnered with in this fight for civil rights equality. He gave his word that he would assist them in their fight if needed, and once called upon for help, he made sure to live up to his word.
King also believed that he had an ethical obligation to go where the injustice is occurring. He would not be very effective in leading the civil rights movement if he waited for the political climate to change. The whole impact of the situation in Birmingham was to call national attention to this injustice and work towards positive change to end the negativity. Turning a blind eye to what was occurring in this area would not help to bring about the wanted change, but would only allow those that permit these injustices to occur in other areas to feel as though they could succeed in treating others poorly. Ethically, King probably did not see his actions as wrong even if they were considered to be breaking the law of the time because he felt that they were unjust laws.
There is a great deal of conflict in the world today going on between Ukraine and Russia dealing with Crimea. One example of conflict that could put King’s actions and ethical principles to use to try to resolve the issue would be the situation that is developing between the two countries. Crimea looms large in Russian history. It was the site of thee Crimean War that was fought in the 1850’s against the French, British and Ottoman Empire, even though Russia lost region is important to Russia due to on the South western tip of Crimea is Russia’s only naval base and its primary means of extending force through the Mediterranean. On the other hand Ukraine wants Crimea due to it is home to a large ethnic Ukrainian population and its where Ukrainian go for vacation.
Recently, the news has reported that Russian president Putin request to use Russia’s military in Crimea and through out Ukraine. Russia’s minister Lavrov justified the presence of Russian troops in the Crimean peninsula, saying that they were there to protect ethnic Russians living in the region from Ukrainian nationalists that are anti-Russians and anti-Semitic. However, one petition signed by tens of thousands of Ukrainian nationals and ethnic Russians denied tensions existing among area residents, but this still remains a potential possibility that could ignite a much larger conflict.
Negotiating is the stage that these countries need to be at currently because no direct actions have been taken on either side (aside from Russia sending in their troops).
References:
King,Martin Luther,,Jr. (2006). LETTER FROM A BIRMINGHAM JAIL. (). Annapolis: Environmental Research Foundation. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/205008318?accountid=34899
Satell, Greg. “5 Things You Should Know About Putin’s Incursion Into Crimea.” Forbes. Forbes Magazine, 01 Mar. 2014. Web. 01 Apr. 2014. <http://www.forbes.com/sites/gregsatell/2014/03/01/5-things-you-should-know-about-putins-incursion-into-crimea/>.
King, M. L., & King, C. S. (2008). The words of Martin Luther King, Jr (2nd ed.). New York: Newmarket.
Stobaugh, J. P. (2012). British history observations & assessments from early cultures to today. Green Forest, Ark.: Master Books.
