In today’s society, we expect a certain standard in regards to everyday things such as jobs, health care, and the schools that we are made to go to as children. Our country is touted as a melting pot, a place where every person, regardless of ethnicity or race, can live and prosper- in short, the American dream that caused the influx of many new citizens even at the advent of the country. When questioned, many can supply information, no matter how scant, about the civil rights movements that swept the nation in the late 1950s and '60s. Many remember the Montgomery bus boycotts (slightly before the movement, in general, got kicked into high gear, but important nonetheless) and Rosa Parks and her weary refusals that spurred thousands. These are prime examples of peaceful resistance to laws that sparked greater, hugely beneficial results for not only the African- American citizens of the US but many other racial minorities as well. Civil disobedience and peaceful resistance to laws are seen in all aspects of the fight for equality. A relevant topic that is much glossed over in history is LGBT+ rights. While the movement is said to have started in earnest during the violent Stonewall riots, many since then have turned their efforts to peaceful solutions, such as marches, lobbying, and protest. While many actively sought- and seek- to deny equal rights to those part of the LGBT+ community, the persistence and determination of the individuals who head the fight came to fruition relatively recently in the 2015 "landmark Supreme Court decision [in] Obergefell v. Hodges that extended the right for same-sex couples to marry nationwide" (The American Gay Rights Movement: A Timeline, infoplease.com). While many rejoiced upon hearing this ruling from our country's highest court, many others still scorned it, whether for reasons tainted with prejudice and bigotry or simply anti-Federalist at heart. More recently in the realm of LGBT+ rights is the bathroom controversy. To put it simply, many do not want those who identify as something other than the gender they physically presented at birth to use their preferred restroom. Some states have specifically passed laws prohibiting the usage of restrooms that do not correspond with the gender recorded on their birth certificate. In an attempt to protest the law, many transitioning or transitioned people deliberately ignore the law. The vast majority of these people who break the bathroom law aren't caught, ever- even when they post their exploits on social media in an attempt to raise awareness of the discriminatory nature of the bill. Peaceful resistance to laws and their beneficial nature are seen in places other than the United States all throughout history. The most famous instance of this was headed by Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, who was otherwise known as Mahatma to his followers. Gandhi fought (peacefully) for
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She found, surprisingly, that nonviolent movements are much more likely to work than violent movements. The failure rates of nonviolent movements are about 40% less than violent movements, according to Chenoweth's data. And the trend is on the up- as time goes on, it's more likely that a violent movement will fail than a nonviolent one. Not only can we see examples of success from the past, but we can also be sure that there will continue to be favorable results in the
She found, surprisingly, that nonviolent movements are much more likely to work than violent movements. The failure rates of nonviolent movements are about 40% less than violent movements, according to Chenoweth's data. And the trend is on the up- as time goes on, it's more likely that a violent movement will fail than a nonviolent one. Not only can we see examples of success from the past, but we can also be sure that there will continue to be favorable results in the