Comparing Letter From Birmingham Jail And The Speech To The Second Virginia Convention

Oppression is never light when it happens. Nevertheless, when it does, people need to know when and how to stand up to it. In the text "Letter from Birmingham Jail," written by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, he argues that people should stand up to unjust laws that oppress minorities; similarly, in Patrick Henry's proclamation "The Speech to the Second Virginia Convention," Patrick Henry declares that the U.S. needs to go to war to fight the oppression the British have been pushing onto them. Both texts argue to push against oppression onto people or communities that are oppressed or discriminated against. Although standing up against authority comes with punishment or repercussions, bringing death, jail time, and danger for the oppressed, people should stand up against the oppression that can be brought upon by authority, that can inhibit the people's freedom; therefore, people should fight and argue against oppressive

This is a valid concern, as seen when King says he is "in the Birmingham city jail" (King, par. 1. Making known the punishments handed out to those who disregard and fight back against unjust treatment. While these punishments can be severe, the penalties given to those who fight against unjust laws and abuses of power will never be more significant than the abuse they already face. Oppression for hundreds of years, or a few men in jail for freedom forever. There is a better outcome. People need to fight against unjust laws, people who strip others of their liberty and rights, and those who oppress just for the sake of oppression. They need to fight against it and do so as quickly as they can figure out how. They must do this for the betterment of the people they care about. Sacrifices are a big part of a fight like this; a small sacrifice for freedom is always better than no sacrifice for