Martin Luther King's Letter From Essay

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This aspect of the letter is incredibly important because King does not want to appear to be irrational to his opponents.

One of the logical appeals King makes in his letter revolves around the issue of just and unjust laws. In his opinion, the officers that arrested him were obeying an unjust law, pointing out that a law is "unjust if it is inflicted on a minority that, as a result of being denied the right to vote, had no part in enacting or devising the law" (King). Here King is pointing out that those who being arrested were not even allowed the right to vote to put that law into action. This prompts him to ask, "Who can say that the legislature of Alabama which set up that state's segregation laws was democratically elected?" (King). Here, King is appealing to logic in that he is forcing his audience to realize that the law is flawed because it does represent the vote of all individuals involved. African-Americans were not allowed to vote and, as a result, were not given a representative voice. King wanted others to become aware of how unjust this act was and wrote, "Throughout Alabama all sorts of devious methods are used to prevent Negroes from becoming registered voters" (King). In addition, he wanted to emphasize that this type of injustice was occurring across the globe, noting that there are "counties in which, even though Negroes constitute a majority of the population, not a single Negro is registered" (King). King wants the injustice exposed because it simply does not make logical sense. In a country, the majority should at least have the right to speak and vote. It seemed unconscionable that things would operate otherwise, leading him to ask, "Can any law enacted under such circumstances be considered democratically structured? Sometimes a law is just on its face and unjust in its application" (King).

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King follows up this assertion with more logic, appealing to his personal circumstance. Those who arrested him "exercised a degree of discipline in handing the demonstrators. In this sense, they have conducted themselves rather 'nonviolently' in public. But for what purpose? To preserve the evil system of segregation" (King). This argument and point-of-view is logical in that it points out the flaw in the laws of the land. Things seem backwards when we look at them from his perspective. He also adds, "I have tried to make clear that it is wrong to use immoral means to attain moral ends. But now I must affirm that it is just as wrong, or perhaps even more so, to use moral means to preserve immoral ends" (King). King is suggesting that the law is immoral and wrong and any means to keep that law are more immoral than the causes of those who fight for freedom.

King's letter is a masterpiece because it demonstrates elements of classical arguments while dealing with a sensitive issue that lead to his arrest. His points are clear, logical, and reasonable without being obtrusive, arrogant, or offensive. This delicate balance represents the best way to present an argument to both sides of an issue. King does not sacrifice any of his values or beliefs while successfully delivering a valid argument.

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