Letter From Birmingham Jail

1. In King’s response he writes, “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.” What are the implica

1. In King’s response he writes, “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.”
What are the implications of this statement for all people in relation to social
injustices? Do you believe he is right? Why or why not?

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Though the “Letter from Birmingham Jail” is implicitly concerned with justice throughout, Dr. King also addresses the question directly at several points. In effect, he posits that justice upholds the dignity of the human spirit, while injustice works against it. By discussing this concept in general, philosophical terms, he establishes criteria by which to equivocally attack both segregation and silence in the face of it. In terms of this latter attack, he ultimately suggests that the man who sees injustice and does nothing to stop it is acting unjustly as well. Following this idea, he argues that laws must be imbued with a moral sense in order to be just; in other words, law and morality cannot be seen as separate pursuits or areas. It is significant that Dr. King frames his argument in terms of these universal values – rather than the simple political question of the day – since it makes the argument both more timeless and more unimpeachable.

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