MLK and Erich Fromm Dear Term Paper

Any law that promotes the oppression of one individual by another is unjust and should be disobeyed. This parallels your idea of conscience as opposed to unjust laws. In the case of injustice, the truly free human being follows his or her conscience instead of the status quo.

However, I also agree with your assessment regarding the majority of humanity, including those in power: "...while we are living technically in the Atomic Age, the majority of men -- including most of those who are in power -- still live emotionally in the Stone Age."

This is manifest in Mr. King's and many other political struggles throughout the world. One could however derive some encouragement from the fact that there are those like Mr. King and yourself who understand that disobedience in some cases is inevitable and essential. The one aspect of your letter that I find it difficult to agree with, however, is your assertion that "There is the possibility, or even the probability, that the human race will destroy civilization and even all life upon earth within the next five to ten years."

This statement is somewhat extreme in terms of its time span. While I agree that the possibility of destruction does exist, this is unlikely to occur within the next decade, especially as the number of critical thinkers in the human race is expanding.

There is one other point you make that I find a little difficult to digest: that the achievement of harmony between all human beings will also mean the end of days and the fulfillment of the biblical prophesy relating to the "new earth." I am not sure that such peace will ever be achieved, firstly, or secondly that biblical prophesy should be taken so literally. Nevertheless, the majority of your document stimulates further thought and debate......