Peaceful, but not passive
Regarding “Civil disobedience” letter (Page A33, Sunday), I must disagree with only one point made by the writer in her response to the op-ed “Dedication to ‘civility’ can’t be basis for quashing protests” (Page A17, July 4). The writer defines civil disobedience as “peaceful, passive protest.” It is peaceful but anything but passive.
The most eloquent defense and explanation of civil disobedience is Dr. Martin Luther King’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” written in 1963. As an English instructor, I taught it for 30 years because of its excellent writing style and well-organized content. The word “action” appears 23 times in that text. The term “direct-action” or “direct action” is mentioned 15 times. Further, the word “tension” occurs 13 times.
In the 10th paragraph, Dr. King says, “Nonviolent direct action seeks to create such a crisis and foster such a tension that a community which has constantly refused to negotiate is forced to confront the issue. It seeks so to dramatize the issue that it can no longer be ignored.”
Today, we see that drama in young people on the freeways seeking an end to mass gun shootings and professional athletes kneeling on the sidelines while the national anthem is played to call attention to continuing racial injustice. Paul L. Rowe, Houston