Unit 3 Reflection

"When any number of men have, by the consent of every individual, made a community [government], they have thereby made that community one body,with a power to act as one body, which is only by the will and determination of the majority" (Locke). According to John Locke, this is how a government is formed; it is formed by the people, for the people. Therefore it is no secret that the role of government is to provide for its people. However, the obligations of the people in that society are a lot less concrete. What is the individual’s duty to his government? Throughout this country's history, we have been able to glean some information that may propose an answer to this question.

The works of Martin Luther King Jr., John F. Kennedy, and Abraham Lincoln have all hinted at the role of individuals within American society. Each share a similar message, for they all speak of freedom, justice, and morality in their pieces. While it is the individual's role "give up all the power, necessary to the ends for which they unite into society" (Locke), it is also the duty of the individual to uphold the purpose of the American government, which is to preserve the freedom, liberty, and natural rights of American and the world's citizens. In his inaugural address, Kennedy compels Americans to engage in "a struggle against the common enemies of man: tyranny, poverty, disease, and war itself." These aspects of society are in direct contrast to the American mission and therefore it is the duty of the citizens to aid the government in eradicating them from society.

However, what if the government is the perpetrator; what if the government is actually the one who allows and perpetuates these circumstances? This is where Martin Luther King Jr. and Cady Stanton's works become especially meaningful. It then becomes the responsibility of the individual to speak up against such injustices. They must stand firm in their belief that these actions are unjust and make their claims known and adhered to. However, these stances must be taken without the aid of violence or disturbance, not only for moral reasons, but for practical ones as well. As Ghandi, King, and Stanton have demonstrated, persistent civil disobedience is more effective than violent insurrection. It allows the rebels to be seen in a more positive light, making their movement a lot more persuasive and credible. It is only through persistent civil disobedience that the people of society change their views. And when the majority of the citizens change the views on a matter, the government must respond and act accordingly, for it is the will of the majority that decides, albeit indirectly, the policies of the American government. In this manner, it is the duty of the individual to ensure that both society and the government do not stray from the principles of natural rights, liberty, and "proposition that all men are created equal" (Lincoln) that this country was founded upon. However, in order to assume this role, all of us "need to pass the 'do-nothingism'" (King). We need to surpass our apathetic natures and become an active voice in the movement against injustice. Additionally, we need to respond quickly to injustice. We have to realize that "justice too long delayed is justice denied."

I, myself, am a victim of this state of mind. Like many others, even when I know that something is wrong, I succumb to the 'do-nothingism' mentality. Though I am well aware of the conflicts occurring in Darfur and North Korea, I have not done anything to improve their state of living. Therefore, I am not fulfilling my responsibilities as a citizen even though the conflicts are occurring in foreign lands because, as Martin Luther King Jr. once noted, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." I hope to one day reach the degree of citizenship that Cady Stanton and Martin Luther King Jr. once achieved and become an active participant in the struggle that John F. Kennedy once advocated for.