A method that has been around since biblical times, civil disobedience has been used throughout the centuries as a way to protest unjust laws. The head of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and de facto leader of the entire civil rights moment was Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. A man deeply rooted in his Christian faith, Dr. King was a frequent advocate for non-violent and civilly disobedient protests. This often included sit-ins in known places of legal segregation, such as restaurants or the “Freedom Rides.” Even purported white supporters of racial equality challenged this method. To them, allowing or supporting the breaking of any law would lead to chaos and …show more content…
The head organizer for Hitler’s “solutions to the Jewish problem,” Eichmann was being held personally responsible for the deaths of many Jews. During the trial, it was made clear that during the time, he did not so much worry that what he was doing was wrong, but rather about obeying the laws set forth by the Reich. He claims to have been a “Pontius Pilate” character, one with his hands tied by law, regardless of moral comprehension (134 Arendt). Although it is evident that he sometimes approached his assignments with disdain and apprehension (135 Arendt), Eichmann was so obsessed with his success in the Nazi party that his moral beliefs were never displayed. As described in Kant’s moral principal, Eichmann was displaying obvious blind obedience (Arendt 136). During the time in the German occupied territories, Eichmann would have been committing a crime not to follow his orders. Regardless of the truth behind his claim to have only been following his every order, Eichmann still was obeying what even he himself knew to be unjust laws. (235