Examples Of Civil Disobedience

Editorial: Conduct of debate on RH bill

THE insults hurled Manny Pacquiao’s way after he took the role of poster boy for the Catholic Church-led opposition to the reproductive health (RH) bill showed that the debate’s protagonists are prone to going personal in arguing their stance.

It also prodded both sides to use star power to sway public opinion to their cause.

After Pacquiao surfaced, Lea Salonga’s pro-RH bill statements gained prominence.

So-called pro-life groups, of course, were the first to raise the emotional level of the debate by issuing threats like waging a civil disobedience campaign if the bill becomes law. This even if no civil disobedience call has ever been realized in the history of this country.

But tirades like the ones hurled by Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago and similar-minded people in support of the bill are also contributing to the heating up of the conflict.

The problem when emotions intrude into the conduct of debates is that issues end up getting muddled. In the current verbal exchange, for example, arguments often stray away from the substance of the measure. One interesting question is if those who are voicing their opinions on the matter have even read House Bill 4244 (Reproductive Health Bill).

Because of this, both the Catholic Church hierarchy and Malacañang may end up regretting their failure to pursue a dialogue that would have helped ease the emotionalism that has characterized the debate over the bill.

Both have earlier expressed their openness to the talks but in the end, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) pulled out, informing Malacañang this month that the “process has reached a point where we have to stand by the teachings and the principles demanded of us by our mission.”

Without the dialogue to settle the conflicting views on the bill and map out possible areas of collaboration, we may have to cling to the hope that both sides will rein in their emotions and conduct the verbal exchange civilly.

In a way, the bishops distancing themselves from that wayward civil disobedience threat can be considered as a sign that the Church really wants a high-level debate on the measure.

Examples of civil disobedience | Deccan Times

Here are a few classic examples of civil disobedience that show how non violent resistance can be used as a potent weapon against unjust government rule. These examples show that it is important not to allow the government to control one’s thoughts and actions. It is important for the people to open their eyes and follow the dictates of their conscience and revolt against injustice.

The various examples include non violent resistance in Bangladesh, China, Cuba, Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic, East Germany, Egypt, Puerto Rico, South Africa, Thailand, Ukraine and the United States of America. Some of the most significant examples of civil disobedience include the civil disobedience movement in India that was led by Mahatma Gandhi.

There are many biographers who believe that Mahatma Gandhi was inspired by Thoreau’s Essay on civil disobedience. It has been stated that Thoreau propagated the concept of civil disobedience through his literary work, that was published in the form of essays and books. Studying the various examples of civil disobedience will give you an insight into Thoreaus’ concept of Civil Disobedience. Some of the other examples of civil disobedience include the Boston Tea Party which is considered to be one of the most significant acts in the history of United States of America.

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Civil disobedience