Soc. 100, Fall 2004

Writing Assignment for October 22

Ethnic Domination and Revolt

Write a three page paper in response to the question below. Be ready to discuss your paper in class on October 22 and be prepared to hand in what you have written at the end of class.

Can you imagine a circumstance in which you would abandon the principle of nonviolence to protect the rights or improve the circumstances of a social category that you belong to? Whether you answer yes or no, give examples that might make it hard to remain nonviolent. Then tell why you have decided that violence or nonviolence are reasonable strategies to pursue.

If valid complaints about violations of civil rights are not accepted by the state or acknowledged by the majority, is it acceptable to abandon the strategy of nonviolent protest?

In the films we are viewing in class on October 13, 18 and 20, and the class visit by Candace Gingrich on October 15 we see that the principle of nonviolent social protest in American used to advocate and affect public policy related to the civil rights of African Americans has been a model for the world. The principle that civil rights of minorities, women, and gays should be respected and protected by the state has been advanced by minority groups in countries like Australia, Northern Ireland, and Israel. Unfortunately in some of these societies the majority has not accepted these claims for certain civil rights and the state has not necessarily backed up the minority groups. Violent conflict has been a result.