Disobedience Might Not Be So Bad
In 1891, Oscar Wilde wrote that “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 through rebellion.” But to what extent is this true? It is not justifiable to be disobedient without a very good reason. Disobedience can only be rationalized in the face of injustice. However, I ask you not to take this article as grounds for teenage rebellion; it is simply an argument for civil disobedience.
The American Revolution was built on the backs of disobedient colonists hoping to sever from their mother country. The colonists felt as though they were being relentlessly taxed and bombarded with unjust acts, like the Quartering Act, which forced Americans to house unwelcome British soldiers. Thomas Jefferson, who was the father of the Declaration of Independence and later the third President of the United States, said “if a law is unjust, a man is not only right to disobey it; he is obligated to do so.” America was born because people were unafraid to consider a different path.
This, however disconnected it may seem, applies to today’s culture. It is assumed that many children follow in their parents’ footsteps, but I implore teenagers to breakaway from their parents beliefs. Do not start a fight (or a revolution), but start a conversation. Some may find that they still believe what they always have, and some may not. Dare to disobey (reasonably).
Mattie Freeze is a senior, and this is her second year on the newspaper staff. Freeze joined because she would like to go into broadcasting.
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Kimry Loehe • Jan 14, 2020 at 3:49 pm
Mattie,
I think that when it comes to certain things that it’s okay to go against someone else’s beliefs. If your parents are against something that you happen to support, then that is your own personal opinion. When you grow up you should do what you think is right, form your own opinion on what you think you should do, you don’t have to do exactly what your parents do just because they’re your parents.
Lena McPherson • Jan 12, 2020 at 8:47 pm
People are right to not fall into the sway of government and become a pushover to injustice. However, I was raised in a home where I would always go be the self-made phrase, ¨ parents are always right¨ . I didn´´´ t do it out of intimidation or fear, I did out out of respect for their wishes and their interest in raising me right. However, I am not saying people should not jst completely become a slave to their parents and never defend them selves. Especially in the case of abuse, or some other illegal or harmful situation. I think that getting in trouble is apart of growing up, but when you become a teenager it becomes more personal. During adolescence this happens quite a lot more than before puberty and such. I think teens should encourage themselves to cond=sider how their guardians feel and respect them even if they can make mistakes and not always be right. No one is perfect.
Avery Zuniga • Jan 12, 2020 at 6:10 pm
I can say I agree with the idea of what you are saying, it’s not all correct, or doing the right thing. I understand what you are going at but I’m not a big fan of the way you suggest disobedience. I’m not saying that you must silently go along with what your parents are saying I just don’t believe in disobeying them, I believe we need to respect our parents, yes we don’t always have to agree but any form of disobeying just isn’t right.
By disobeying them we suffer a really high risk of being punished. Us teenagers aren’t quite fully developed and we tend to be rebellious because of it. I understand your point and I partly agree I just think choosing to disobey can end badly.
Gunnar Willis • Jan 11, 2020 at 10:41 pm
Hi Mattie,
I agree with you that disobedience isn’t a terrible thing, it can sometimes even be freeing, but I believe you should stop at a certain point. I believe in speaking your mind and not bottling up your thoughts, that’s a right listed in the constitution, but if your parents give you a chore or something to do you should do it.
If, for example, you refuse a chore given to you by your parents in the name of civil disobedience there can be consequences for no reason, but if you REALLY have a problem with this chore you should talk to your parents about it and not just flat out refuse it. I believe in disobedience to a certain point, if a certain person is being truly unreasonable that is the point at which you should disobey, but not just for no reason.
elissa • Jan 10, 2020 at 1:47 pm
Dear Mattie
I agree that sometimes it is okay to go on a different path than what your parents have made for you. There is one flaw though, disobeying a parent or authority almost never works out in child’s favor, we are always punished either. If a parent does not agree or does not find disobeying justifiable to them and if they do agree then there is a possibility that we be punished for just simply not listening to them. What I am saying there is always a great possibility that when children disobey then we will be punished.
Sarah Hope • Jan 9, 2020 at 4:33 pm
Mattie,
I have found in my personal life that even though a rule may seem stupid that it is there to help guide that person along. Now I think the popular statement “ask for forgiveness not permission” helps fuel teens’ desires and ideas. However, if a students’ parents were to find out that their child snuck out to go to a friend’s house instead of asking, hoping that they would be forgiven is a stretch but these are the ideas that teens think of.
I believe that it is just better to protest the rule and hope or change rather than risk huge consequences for something that could’ve been asked for.
skylos elizondo • Jan 9, 2020 at 2:55 pm
I agree that disobeying isn’t always bad. Always obeying someone or something that tells you to do something bad would be wrong.
Averi • Jan 9, 2020 at 2:53 pm
Dear Mattie,
I believe that in some situations disobedience is understandable. On the other hand I think that it should be noted that disobeying everything may end badly. There should be a known line between when to disobey and when not to.
Grady Halcom • Jan 9, 2020 at 2:35 pm
Dear Mattie,
You have a great viewpoint on the matter of disobedience not being so bad given certain circumstances. However, when the revolution for America started was when the colonists completely wanted separation from the Mother country. All of the points leading up to that we had tried to work out a negotiation to where they control what is going on over there and we do the same here. So rather than just disobeying the rules your parents set in talk with them about the different circumstances. We are living in a new world from what they were. This is the same reason the first colonies were called the New World, or New England. Two completely different worlds, but same family ties.
Carson • Jan 9, 2020 at 1:56 pm
I agree with the idea of trying a different path from your parents respectfully. My only problem with it is that most parents raise their kids to know what they say goes and most of the time when kids try and go against that it never works in their favor. Even if the kids are respectful the parents still don’t like them questing their authority, because once they let them question it once they think that the kid will abuse that power and try and do it over and over. This is why parents have rules in place and why I think kids should just deal with it they will be out of the house soon enough.
Kaydence Fergerson • Jan 9, 2020 at 11:18 am
Dear Mattie Freeze
Yes, I agree with the thought that civil disobedience is sometimes necessary, I still think you should not just disobey you should think about it and reasonably disagree.
Aidan Gilbert • Jan 9, 2020 at 11:02 am
Dear Mattie,
I am using your article for an example as counter argument & argument, thank you!
My Argument: Many people find themselves in the scenario that their parent, or another authority figure disagrees with their disobedience. This disobedience could potentially be risky as one’s actions might be result in punishment.
Counter Argument: I agree with the thought that civil disobedience is sometimes necessary for growth. Change sometimes does include disobedience. However, the situation is what one should take into careful consideration. A teenager should probably not “disobey” but “reasonably” disagree.
Thank you! And this is an incredible article!
trista conner • Jan 9, 2020 at 10:54 am
Hey Mattie,
I can agree about people trying to ‘disobey’ for a change, but what is the difference between right and wrong disobedience?
When I think teen rebellion and disobedience, I think, “MOM!! I can hang out with my friends past 12AM whenever I want!!” or kids disobeying teachers. I dont like a lot of teachers beliefs and teaching methods or attitude, so should I disobey them? Or is this a ‘going on strike for climate change’ type of thing? I wanna fight for whats right, but what IS ‘right’?