<p>Prompt: Sometimes it is necessary to challenge what people in authority claim to be true. Although some respect for authority is, no doubt, necessary in order for any group or organization to function, questioning the people in charge -- even if they are experts or leaders in their fields -- makes us better thinkers. It forces all concerned to defend old ideas and decisions and to consider new ones. Sometimes it can even correct old errors in thought and put an end to wrong actions. Is it important to question the ideas and decisions of people in positions of authority?</p>
<p>Essay:
Authority is a vital part of human society; without it, there would be chaos around communities. However, authority can be oppressive, and, at times, we must know when to defy authority.</p>
<pre><code> The American Revolution is a great example of when defying authority gave society something better. The British government was giving their colonists taxes without their representation. The colonists felt that they had enough of this tyrrany and decided to revolt on the command of the founding fathers including General George Washington. The colonists beat the British and created a new government based on limited powers and checks and balances. Today, the United States of America is considered one of the leaders of the free world. If it wasn't for the Americans' revolt against the British authority, we wouldn't have one of today's most powerful countries.
Although the American Revolution was fought for freedom, the American government hasn't always been best at giving freedoms to its people. Martin Luther King Jr., a civil rights activist, fought to end segregation in the U.S.A. He led boycotts and marches to accomplish this goal. He even went to jail for his efforts. The American government's policy on segregation was wrong, and there needed to be a revolt against authority to end it. Today, Martin Luther King Jr. is considered one of the most important figures in American history due to his efforts against authority.
Another African American who was oppressed by authority was Frederick Douglas in The Narrative of the Life of a Slave. In this book Frederick Douglas details how slavery affected his life and how he used education to defeat it. He to read while he was a slave which opened his eyes about the world. He used this as motivation to fight against his slave owners and become a freed man in the North. Frederick Douglas later went on to convince Abrahalm Lincoln to make Emancipation Proclamation a key issue during the Civil War. Without his revolts against his slave owners, slavery could have existed in the U.S. a lot longer than it did.
Authority is important, yet sometimes it becomes too oppressive. Important leaders in history knew when to fight back against tyrrany to create a better future for the people they represented.
</code></pre>