Martin Luther King Jr. made many changes that benefitted the world in a positive way, going as far as dying for his cause. Knowing all that this famous man did for America, such as being an active leader in the Civil Rights Movement and advocating for equality using peaceful protests, a question comes to mind: who could ever compare? Well, in the 17th Century, a Quaker woman, Mary Dyer, fought similarly for something she believed passionately about; her freedom to practice religion without being looked down upon. Her well-known tale can be found in Jim Carnes’s novel, Us and Them: A History of Intolerance in America. Mary’s story can often be related to Martin Luther Kings Jr’s quote “An individual who breaks a law that conscience tells …show more content…
In Marthin Luther Kings quote he says, “an individual who breaks a law that conscience tells him is unjust”. This can relate to Mary because it was her belief that everyone is capable and should have a one on one relationship with God. This went against the teachings of the church, and caused Mary to get condemned for still speaking out. In this way, her actions are similar to those in the quote. Additionally, Mary “willingly accepts the penalty of imprisonment in order to arouse the conscience of the community over its injustice” through her willingness and continuously going back to surrender to the Puritans. To elaborate, by doing this she gains the attention of community members which works to further benefit her cause, which, “is in reality expressing the highest respect for the law.” Her effect on the community can be represented by her executionist saying, “I have met the most beautiful woman in the world, and now I’m going to become a Quaker” (Page 13).Just like King, everything Mary accomplished through her actions worked towards a greater cause. Others may not see what they believe to be correct; however, from a moral standpoint, they