In regards to the natural state of the world, the vast majority of living beings, and specificially humans, communitites are always formed in order to provide for the greater good of the individuals who make up that community. Communities are able to provide a support network for its population that are managed in a just and moral way to always care for and protect its individuals. In the case of Martin Luther King Jr. and specifically in the case of his Letter from Birmingham Jail he outlines the expectations that individuals owe to their communites and vice versa, and how both need to act in moral ways.
In a complex and modern world that King was living in at the time, there are many levels of communities that any individual can be a part of, but while some levels of community might have more personal influences to the individual it's the responsibility of the community to treat its population justly while the individual must put forth a constant effort to maintaining the morality of the community. King said, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. Never again can we afford to live with the narrow, provincial "outside agitator" idea. Anyone who lives inside the United States can never be considered an outsider anywhere within its bounds." While King was a member for the African American community he was also a part of the Atlanta community, the Southern community and that overall community of the United States. King puts forth a consistent effort into all of these arenas so that they may all be ruled justly, as is the responsibility of any individual. While many individuals may think the most they need put forth is to conduct their own lives morally it's hipocritical for them to not defend against immoral acts within any community they're a part of. If they didn't act to promote morality in their own lives as well as their community then they defeat the purpose of the community, which needs to protect all its members based on the strength of the individuals in the community.
In the same light, the individuals who determine the morality of the community must always ensure the equality and justness of their laws and standards. As King discussed, "the fact that there fire two types of laws: just and unjust. I would be the Brat to advocate obeying just laws. One has not only a legal but a moral responsibility to obey just laws. Conversely, one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws. I would agree with St. Augustine that "an unjust law is no law at all." The community is based on feelings of safety and support so the community must treat its entire population equally in these regards and must always be willing to evolve to treat the true members of the community no matter if the views of the individuals are in the majority or minority. Lastly, if this is not the case and members of the community are not treated justly then the individuals must resist: "in any nonviolent campaign there are four basic steps: collection of the facts to determine whether injustices exist; negotiation; self-purification; and direct action." The individual has the responsibility to peacefully protect the values of the community against any curroption.
Overall the inividual owes the community his or her full effort to stand for the morality and values that initially established the community. Conversly, it's the responsibility of the community to rule justly and equally for it's population in all circumstances.
2 comments:
"While King was a member for the African American community he was also a part of the Atlanta community, the Southern community and that overall community of the United States. King puts forth a consistent effort into all of these arenas so that they may all be ruled justly, as is the responsibility of any individual. While many individuals may think the most they need put forth is to conduct their own lives morally it's hipocritical for them to not defend against immoral acts within any community they're a part of."
Well put, but what happens when one community's interests conflict with another and the individual belongs to both? For example, the South's secession from the US during the Civil War.
Ooh, I like Cherish's comment.
What I was going to say is that your first paragraph is both very articulate and brings up some interesting ideas that i haven't read elsewhere, like "support network." No one else has really said anything about how individuals within a community support each other, even though it seems obvious. You also talk about both the individual and community contributing to maintain a two-way justice, but what does this justice entail? Does a person have certain undeniable rights, or just what the community gives them? You seem to assume that these shared "morals" are self-explanatory, but they are probably the hardest to pin down.
Also, I found in you later paragraphs that your sentences got hella long. Your thoughts will be easier to decipher if you make the language a little clearer and simpler...just a suggestion.
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