It’s not uncommon for people in power to speak of disobedience in the same light as treason or rebellion.
Yet there are individuals throughout history whose disobedience was instrumental in exposing and overcoming injustice.
They include Daniel in the days of King Darius, Gandhi leading the crusade for Indian independence, or Rosa Parks refusing to give up her bus seat.
Each is celebrated for peacefully defying unjust laws.
In each case, these individuals chose to stand for their God-given rights that the prevailing laws sought to deny them.
Each was imprisoned and punished for their disobedience, but their valiant stands still served to correct official injustices.
At some point, they chose to disobey rather than conform or suffer in silence.
The great challenge here for most of us is being able to confidently discern between just laws that deserve our support and unjust laws that warrant disobedience.
Laws that put us at odds with our most deeply held core values require us to make the choice to either acquiesce or to resist when redress is not possible.
In order to have the faith of Daniel, the conviction of Gandhi, or the courage of Rosa Parks in standing against injustice, our moral compass must be calibrated and properly oriented.
We must be like Henry David Thoreau who, while in jail for refusal to pay a poll tax, was asked by Ralph Waldo Emerson, “Why are you here?”
Thoreau’s reply was, “Why are you not here?”
You may also enjoy Latter-day Voices, another quality publication in the Fifty-two Seven Alliance family.
Looking for a slightly bolder take on the passing scene? Please check out and subscribe to my daily podcast The Bryan Hyde Show
Share this post