In 1891, Irish author Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) observed "Disobedience in the eyes of anyone who has read history is man's original virtue. It is through disobedience that progress has been made, through disobedience and rebellion". Wilde claims that disobedience is a valuable human trait that it promotes social progress.
Write an essay that argues your position on the extend to which Wilde's claims are valid. Use appropriate examples from your reading, experience or observations to support your argument.
Rosa Parks, Saint Maximilian, and Matin Luther were are rebels of their times, and they stood up for what they believed in and made huge impacts in other's lives. As Wilde explained, disobedience is not necessarily a bad trait to have, but it is the reasoning behind the disobedience that creates progress.
ReplyDeleteRosa Parks stood up for herself, the other of the African Americans in her time, and those in the future. She was disobedient to the authorities not because she was the one doing wrong, but because the authorities were the ones who were wrong. Parks wanted to make a statement that all humans deserve equal rights no matter the color of their skin. Even though she was arrested for her disobedience to sit in the "colored" section of the bus, she made a statement to not only the people in her time, but people are still talking about her courage to this day. As Wilde explained, "It is through disobedience that progress has been made, through disobedience and rebellion." Parks helped change the laws about blacks and whites, and made it so that all humans are equal. Without her rebellion and disobedience, whose to say that our laws might not have changed? Disobedience is the crucial element for change.
Saint Maximilian lived during World War II and was a victim of Auschwitz. When WWII hit his home town, he became one of the only brothers in his monastery. He then ended up opening up the monastery to help shelter refugees including 2,000 Jews. The monastery was then shut down and him and the refugees were sent to Auschwitz. He died in the concentration camp because he volunteered to die in place of a father who still had his family. To this day Saint Maximilian touches people's lives and helps people find their way to Christ because of is disobedience of his refugee shelter and martyrdom.
Martin Luther is known for his 95 theses. During his time on earth, the Catholic church was selling indulgences to pay for the Cathedral in Rome. Luther was outraged at this and wrote his 95 theses telling the church what they were doing wrong. This rebellion lead to the banishing and reformation of the indulgences in the church. No longer were they being sold or just given out for the benefit of the church. Without Luther's rebellion, the church would not be the way it is today.
Wilde made some very bold and truthful statements about disobedience. Many of the most remembered significant people in history were in fact rebels and did not follow the rules. Disobedience and rebellion are most definitely crucial elements for progress and change.
I really enjoyed how you used Rosa Parks, Saint Maximilian, and Martin Luther as examples of the three "rebels". I think that added a good kick to your blog! Good work!
DeleteMarcy, I enjoyed your references because they really added some opening detail! You also covered disobedience well in your bodies!
DeleteMarcy, including the three important figures of our time added how important disobedience is at times. It was good to use them as they used it for the right reasons . Good blog!
DeleteDisobedience is seen throughout today's society, and many people have different outlooks depicting wether or not it is a negative of positive behavior. In many cases people believe that disobedience is a bad thing, but I on the other hand think it's a good thing. Though it may seem strange, I personally think that through disobedience, a person can learn many valuable life lessons, including, the difference between right and wrong.
ReplyDeleteSeveral kids, teenagers, and young adults have trouble telling whether or not something is right or wrong. In many cases, people think that what their doing is somehow benefiting someone or something, but in reality, is not. By doing the wrong thing in some situations can make an individual mentally strong and can potentially lead them to make the right decision in the future. I know from many personal experiences that choosing to do the wrong thing can make me smarter and more prepared for what life will someday throw at me. Through disobeying, or physically choosing to do the wrong thing, an individual will have the capability to learn from their own decisions. For example, when a student constantly disobeys a teacher by not listening, refusing to do homework, or just refusing to accept criticism it can lead to future life lessons. This same student may fail out of school or get kicked out of their future job all because they disobeyed. Now of course, this isn't a good thing, but this student can learn from the mistakes of disobeying by being led to a failure. This failure can teach and remind the student that disobeying can lead to bigger problems. Once somebody fails so many times, it is only right for that person to become mentally and physically stronger to do that right thing next.
One should never strive to be disobedient, but to rather take a step back and rethink the situation they are currently in. I am not saying that it's okay to be disobedient, but disobedience could potentially lead a trouble individual to success in the future. I know many people out there would have to disagree with what I am saying, but I honestly think that disobedience can improve how one may decide to act in the near future, and what their entire outlook on life is. Everyone is going to disobey at least once on their lives, you just have to learn to teach yourself how to learn from your mistakes that you make. Although people are going to be made at you for disobeying for whatever reason you choose, but you have to fix the problem, and learn to begin to not disobey anymore.
Nobody can be perfect one hundred percent of them time. Mistakes happen wether they are intentional or not. We must use our wrongdoings and always learn from them. If we do not learn from them, then there really is no reason to do them in the first place. We have to learn to do everything in life with a purpose, if you do not then you are simply just going to the motions of life and not living it to its full potential.
Cass, you provided some nice details that really expanded your essay. I really liked the points you hit!
DeleteI really enjoyed the approach you took for this blog! I especially liked how you added your own personal opinions and experiences! Try to expand your vocabulary and use more descriptive or creative words to help spice up your writings. Overall, great job!
ReplyDeleteDisobedience is acknowledged as an act of failure or refusal to obey rules or someone in authority. Disobedience attempts to create influence on society's point of view. Oscar Wilde took the time to share his opinion relating to the source of progress found in the actions of disobeying. Failure in life may not always appear as a wanted theme, but failure and disobedience open up a portal toward achieving success and gaining opportunities.
ReplyDeleteRobert F. Kennedy once expressed, "only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly". It's often heard they you learn from your mistakes. Which I believe is somewhat of the point Wilde is trying to share with us. No one is perfect and everyone follows a journey. On that path of life encounters with obstacles are bound to be made, and it's up to an individual to choose their road. Through wrong doings success can be made. With mistakes and risks there is knowledge and learning to be met.
A common phrase often used around in life is "everything happens for a reason". The road ahead is never revealed to people and their personal lives. Failing at duties can create benefits in growing stronger as it teaches life lessons. Being apart of wrong doings brings upon unforeseen opportunities that would have not been available without the negative act. Failing in life it's just the beginning of opportunity in gaining success.
it is nearly impossible to be perfect at everything in life. There will be obstacles to overpass. Feeling pain of regret from opportunity is much worse than the feelings of failure. It is important to put each and every little attempt toward reaching goals even if that involves opening up big risks. Taking chances and risks in life provide the best chances in success.
You made this blog your own and explained it very well. You used an example I would've never thought of. It made me see things differently!
DeleteI liked the quote that you choose by Robert F. Kennedy. That was a good addition to your blog. Good job!
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ReplyDeleteIt is dated back to the 1700s where America's most prominent forefather, Benjamin Franklin, spoke that "Honesty is the best policy," while Oscar Wilde followed up in 1891 stating "Disobedience in the eyes of anyone who has read history is man's original virtue. It is through disobedience that progress has been made, through disobedience and rebellion." Through the centuries, many individuals have voiced their opinion on the idea of honesty and disobedience and the benefits/ misfortunes that follow with such actions. It is through the life's curveballs that we experience our conscience debating between honesty or disobedience in our own lives.
Society in the twenty first century can be viewed as an all time low or all time high, depending on the circumstance. In once recent occurrence, disobedience happens to create high national and federal controversy while extending information to the average Americans of what their country is partaking in and watching. Edward Snowden worked for the Central Intelligence Agency of the United States (CIA) and was a prominent computer technology professional. He made his way to the top of the line professionals and through that time, he came across classified information that the government used "numerous global surveillance programs, many run by the NSA and the Five Eyes Intelligence Alliance, with the cooperation of telecommunication companies and European governments" to have the capability to view everyone in the world! I personally saw this movie in theaters and was intrigued until the last scene of the real life story of Snowden and his actions. In his opinion, he thought what the governments across the world were doing were morally wrong and unstable for officials to be using this as a negative motive against citizens and their classified lives. In 2013, Snowden released the information from his hotel room with the help from two news casting officials who were in the same mindset as himself. His disobedience to the privacy of the CIA reached breaking news across the entire world and informed the American viewers, specifically, of what governments and even their own is doing. His rebellion created an epidemic of awareness for average Americans to be weary of their household technology (computer and cell phone) being used as a spying device. As a personal note, I can remember my mom telling my sister, who was still in college at the time, to be mindful of her technology (mostly the camera on her laptop) due to hackers having the capability to use her system and view the life in front of the lens. Who knew the government(s) were the main prospects
I have found myself agreeing with Oscar Wilde. Disobedience and rebellion has truly been a way of finding progress with certain things. A better way to think of it is that when we find people arguing against another for the greater good, people might side with them and form a rebellion until their needs have been met. Strikes are the first rebellions that come to my mind, and more than enough strikes have happened to force this world into being a better place.
ReplyDeleteThere were many labor strikes such as "Pullman On Strike", "Postal Workers Strike", and the "ILGWU Strike." These particular strikes were all asking for more pay and all wanted to negotiate their work hours. Some wanted less hours and more pay, others wanted more hours and more pay. The "Pullman On Strike" happened on May 11, 1894 and ended just two months later. They wanted less hours in a day, but still get the same amount of pay for the day. They never got their needs, but who is to say that it didn't spark strikes all over America to have the same things done. Another labor strike, "Postal Workers Strike", happened in March of 1970. The postal workers were told that they did not have the right to collective bargaining. Nearly 200,000 workers went on strike, and later received the right and have had it until this day. Now if that wasn't progress in that field, what was it? The last example of the labor strikes is the "ILGWU Strike", or as its full name is "The International Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union Strike". This strike was done by woman who wanted a 52 hour week, but also wanted a 20% pay increase. The word of the strike was spreading, the strike soon consisted of about 30,000 woman from 500 companies across America. It wasn't long before these women got what they wanted and received their higher pay and work hours.
These labor strikes are barely scratching the surface on the total strikes set out for better rights, pay, freedom, etc. Strikes are a huge example of how going against rules for a better cause can create a better society. A society that we need.
Your blog was very informational, however it shows grammatical errors and possible different word usage could make the essence of the blog more impactful. Overall, the example showed your argument!
DeleteI thought your use of the many different strikes was interesting and a nice approach. Expanding on some of your ideas would have been a nice touch to your blog. Otherwise, interesting And a great blog!
DeleteJake, I like your use of statistics to formulate your point, but in the future it can be tremendously more effective if you also paste the URL to where you derived your findings from, at the end of your blog. Keep up the good work!
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ReplyDeleteAs children, we are taught Ben Franklin's "honesty is the best policy" and preached the importance of telling the truth. But later on in our lives we're told the little white lies never hurt anyone and are now led to disobedience leading to success in the end (occasionally). Throughout our lives, we can evaluate how relevant that actually is. For example, I am usually the one to always follow the rules and refrain from being put in situations that I tell one person one thing, but actually do another. It was just last week where I should have used the disobedience policy rather than the honesty. A friend and myself were in 8th period together right after the "Pittsburgh Steelers" assembly and found ourselves wanting to get a picture with them since we were not able to get one while we were still present in the auditorium. We contemplated going back, whether the teacher would allow us was a pressing obstacle. I no sooner asked the teacher and she gave a straight up no (quite rudely if I might add). But I asked if my friend and I could go to the auditorium, not if her and I could go to the library or see Mrs. A. It is more likely that she would have allowed us to that proposition rather than telling the truth. We could have said we were going to one place and snuck into the auditorium and get a picture with them. But now, we missed that chance and will more than likely never get a picture with them let alone see them again. We missed the opportunity by being honest and following the rules rather than Snowden and achieving greatness through adversity.
The double standard can be applied to the honesty vs disobedience instance, however, you have to judge the circumstance as to if it's worth it or not. In both cases, it would have been worth it to be disobedient just this once. The in between "truth and lies" has to be evaluated in certain doses. It does not apply to everything, but the instance with Snowden and the picture support the act of being disobedient and rebellious.
Emily, I like how you worked with two examples throughout your blog. However one can be both honest and rebellious. Was Snowden not honest with his findings while also disobedient to the NSA? Anyway, good job!
DeleteI agree with Oscar Wilde's claim that disobedience is a valuable trait that can promote social progress, but I disagree on the idea that it is man's original virtue. Disobedience and rebellions to injustice for good-ends can be found easily throughout history. There's the American Revolution where the colonies rebelled against Great Britain due to their unfair practices of high taxes, the fight for Civil rights, and the freeing of the slaves. But these great rebellions do not make disobedience strictly a thing to shine upon. Wilde's claims are valid insofar that the disobedience is pursued only for the betterment of humanity.
ReplyDeleteDisobedience can cause more destruction than good. In the beginning of creation, Man was disobedient to God and created original sin for the rest of mankind to endure. What social progress was made in such an act? In 1914, Gavrilo Princip killed Archduke Franz Ferdinand. Gavrilo was a rebel trying to overthrow the Siberian government due to the idea that the Siberian government was oppressive. However very few would think the act was admirable, because it was one of the acts that sparked WW1. A more recent rebellion, which is not virtuous in any sense, would be ISIS. They want to overthrow all governments and install a worldwide Islamic Caliphate. They are disobedient to rules other than their own, and the only thing that is coming out of this is social destruction, not progress. Ancient buildings are being destroyed, innocents are being crucified for their beliefs, and a fear of terrorism is present.
I agree, but want more examples! Good job!
DeleteYour position on this topic was interesting to consider and enjoyable to read. It's a completely different side to what Wilde claims. However, once again, I wish you would adds some more ideas to your writing. It's lacking the extra bit to make the blog even more interesting to read. You have great ideas and I wish you would show more of them.
DeleteI have always had an immense respect for those figures in history who were never afraid to speak their mind and ideas in any type of situation. I think Oscar Wilde's Quijote speaks a great deal towards those fearless rebels that marked human history forever. Of course there was a specific time, place, and situation for when disobedience is necessary. Without those special fearless people in our world, where would humanity be today?
ReplyDeleteOne of the first instances of disobedience and rebellion that occurred for the greater good that comes to my mind is the American Revolution. The thirteen colonies were put under strict and cruel ruling from the English king. The citizens of the colonies were becoming more and more fed up with the unfair treatment they were being subjected to. The fearless rebels they had in their midst who were not afraid of disobedience to lead a rebellion against the unfair king. The revolution went on and changed the entire world's outlook on life. Without these rebels, where would our world be today?
Another example I can think of (bare with me here) to elite to this quote, is or new president Donald Trump, even if he isn't the most conventional rebel Oscar Wilde refers to. I personally believe Donald Trump wants to do good for this country and wants to help the United States grow and prosper. Because of his lack of a filter when he speaks, many people are turned off and do not want to listen to him. He speaks his mind and says ideas other people are to afraid to say, which many people are not used to hearing. Donald Trump knew what he wanted when he decided to run for president: to make it to the White House. He knew what he wanted and used his unconventional form of disobedience and his rebellious attitude to stand out from his competition. The people who voted for him most likely recognized that about him and were attracted to that aspect of him. Clearly, in Donald Trump's case, disobedience helped him each his goal and create progress for this country.
At one point or another, disobedience comes out of every person for various reasons. Looking back in history, we see the people who utilized disobedience and rebellion to their advantage to stand up for others and their values. It's interesting to think about the time period Oscar Wilde wrote his idea on disobedience and rebellion. What would he think if he could see what was to come in the future of the world?
I found it very affective that you opened with a question and then answered that question in your blog. it was also very affective that you closed with a different question but you answered the question before you asked it!
DeleteDisobedience does promote process and change. For example, what if Martin Luther King Jr. had not practiced the act of civil disobedience? Letters from the Birmingham Jail changed everything. People began to see racism differently, for what it really was. On a similar note, Rosa Parks's act of disobedience sparked a movement. Without the actions of these two civil rights activists, laws like the Civil Rights Act, which outlawed discrimination of any kind, would not have been passed. Joan of Arc is another individual who was so disobedient that she died for it. Without speaking our mind, we would be the same. We would just deal with the horror of life that exist because of corruption. Just as Tim mentioned, just like in the communist countries. Disobedience makes America better than those places.
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DeleteWhat is disobedience? Some people may say that disobedience is a horrible thing to make a habit or make it known to within the brains of human kind. However, the people that think this are only half right. Disobedience can be a form of disrespect so it needs to be used in the most wise ways. There was a movie that I watched when I was little called Matilda. There was a family of three consisting of a mother, a father, and their son. The mother decided that she got lonely at home and decided that she wanted t adopt a little girl. The day that she was able to pick up her new child, she neglected her and never gave her the attention that a baby girl should have. The little girls name was Matilda, she was left to fend for herself. The family was so caught up in watching junk on tv and eating fast food for dinner close to every night. When the original members of the family would go out for the day they would leave Matilda alone. She was very smart and didn’t want to become like the family that adopted her so any chance she got, she went to the library to read books to learn as much as she could. She finally worked up the courage to ask her father if she could go to school for the first time, but he denied. Instead of allowing the child to expand her horizons, he made her watch junk on tv with the rest of the family. He held her head towards the tv that she was forced to watch the junk that was on every night. However, when the father discovered that there was a school with a principle as strict as he was, he agreed to send the child that he neglected to school. Matilda was beyond happy that she was able to make friends and learn new things everyday, but when the principle met Matilda her enthusiasm was put down and she was put into a sort of detention. Matilda didn’t understand any of the people in her life and she wasn’t about to obey people that were leading her in the wrong path. In the end of the movie, Matilda is adopted by a different family because of the things that she has done. She disobeyed. Her new family didn’t neglect her so she listened to them. Disobedience is in fact a valuable human trait that promotes social progress. However, the way disobedience is used affects what the outcome will be. So be wise and never disobey God.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading your blog! I love that you used Matilda as a reference! You made a perfect argument that disobedience can be good or bad depending how one uses it. Nice job!
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