It is common in the depths of a man's soul and a man's being to have this urge to repeal authority no matter whether that authority be large or minor. But despite this instinct and the few that act on it, it is always in one's best interest to assimilate themselves under the established authorities in that favor may be gained and safety will have its umbrella of protection around the individual and his family. Such as Frazier Robinson, father of Michelle Obama, who in the late 1960s and early 1970s worked with the ‘Machine’ in Chicago, and by doing so enabled his family to not only attain a comfortable living arrangement but also enabled his children to receive a high level of education. There are those though, who we have come to admire and respect in history who have chosen to adhere to this instinct based on core beliefs to not conform to the headship and have succeeded, though not without hardships and struggles. Rarely is this the case; it unwise and calling upon adversity when you oppose authorities already in place.
Martin Luther King Jr. was bold, and as he was very active he was a very well-heard promoter of his stand for integration gaining the attention of those who had put in place a system in which social and racial relations were intended to follow. His skin which spoke more than his words along with his radical ideas gave him the podium for which he later was executed. He stood out in a way, unlike that of a man on a highway trying to stop traffic at the busiest time in the day, but stood out further in that he was so passionate and rigorous about which he was defending. The many speeches that he gave including these elements led to several historic riots as well as civil disobedience, such as the Bus Boycotts, furthering and strengthening his own display of civil disobedience; making him the target of which to stop the continuing of such behaviors. Integration is a key ingredient of not only our economy today but also the innovations of tomorrow, but that was not the idea of that era and instead stood in contradiction to ideas already standing and therefore he was executed.
Christianity is one of the most followed religions in the world today, but only due to the stand and sacrifice of the prophet Jesus, who through doing benevolent deeds was still exiled by his own religious authorities in terms of acceptance and was later executed. The actions and/or so called miracles, in the hope and idea to strengthen the society as a whole back-fired due to the rooted ideas of how society should run and these teachings could not be received even though presented humbly. No matter how much something might be beneficial to a person or one receiving something from another, if that person is so conformed to their way of doing things then they will not receive. Like the 2008 debate on healthcare in which many refused to even consider the idea of a public option which would have benefitted mass amounts of people providing healthcare to everyone. This refusal to consider the proposal of a public option is in its simplest form fear, and is the same fear that the Jewish authorities had when it came to the teachings of Jesus, and the same fear that any authority undergoes when challenged.
Even in appearing to disagree with the rules and regulations of a particular area can institute dangers to that sphere of safety and peace of mind, relaying to that fear in the authorities to maintain control at all times. Throughout history those who have appeared to be unshaken by authority and always carry a self-controlled mentality, have been the ones singled out and either alienated or executed. The best example of this is John Procter in The Crucible, who simply by his views, his intuition, and what was right, as well as primarily his reputation for being below the standard of an elect Puritan male in the community, was dragged into the confusion of the head authorities. And like the prophet Jesus, even in trying to aid the authorities was instead assumed as being aligned with the opposition and trying to deceive within the inside; another form of fear on the part of authorities and an element that led also to the destruction of the prophet Jesus.
Rarely is it that those who stand, for whatever belief it may be, right or wrong, go without some sort of persecution. History shows us that leaders and even ordinary people when going against a stronger or a higher authority than themselves face adversity. Despite if their ideas are beneficial for others, world changing, the most followed religion in the world, or just purely the reality not corrupted by illusions, they are susceptible to persecution and worse death. Ghandi, the Kennedy’s, Thomas Moore, Malcolm X, Monte Cristo . . . the list is endless. But it all goes back to the principle that if you put yourself on a pedestal you are susceptible to be shot down. It is better for a man who values his life to assimilate himself under the present authorities.
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