Help with debate topic

[Remarkable]

I'm hoping that you could help me with something.I've got a debate in a couple of days and I have to find strong argumens and evidences since I intend to win this tournament.The topic is "Civil Disobedience is Justified".I'm wondering if any of you has any materials or thoughts on this topic.I have some strong arguments for and against but our thesis (we're a team) has to be impeccable this time.Every argument or evidence for and against civil disobedience is very welcomed,preferably before this Saturday,but still,even later would be fine.

Thanks a lot in advance.

[stephofthenight]

what form of debate do you do?

[Dori]

Look into Henry David Thoreau's Civil Disobedience. Here are a few links:

Civil Disobedience Online Text @ Wikisource (http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Civil_Disobedience)
Civil Disobedience Wikipedia Article (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_Disobedience_%28Thoreau%29)

That should give you a few ideas. :thumbs_up

[Remarkable]

Thanks,Dori!

Stephofthenight,I do "Karl Popper" format.I'd be very grateful if you can help.

[byquist]

Check out eco-terrorism and Edward Abby. Just this week some building was set afire out in Oregon I believe. That is active civil disobedience, quite controversial. Eco=terrorism has a link with another topic -- bad treatment of animals in clinics and fur farms.

[genoveva]

Did Malcolm X support civil disobedience?

[kilted exile]

Check out eco-terrorism and Edward Abby. Just this week some building was set afire out in Oregon I believe. That is active civil disobedience, quite controversial. Eco=terrorism has a link with another topic -- bad treatment of animals in clinics and fur farms.

I think mentioning the eco-terrorist groups would be a sure way to lose debate if you have to be on the side of civil disobedience being justified. Eco-terrorists are despicable lowlifes who do more harm to the cause they claim to support than help, for example the pathetic cowards of the ALF.

For an example of civil disobedience being justified see the womens suffrage movement, or as a more recent example the Orange Revolution.

[manolia]

For justification of civil disobedience:
People protesting against the participation to wars
People protesting for higher salaries and better healthcare system, better educational system and whatever makes their standard of living higher ;)

[Remarkable]

Thanks everyone.

In fact,I also need arguments against civil disobedience,since I have to speak about both sides of the quarter.But still,yoiu have been helpful with arguments and links.

[manolia]

Against:
You can talk about the various extremist organisations and terrorist groups around the world, who put bombs and kill people. Their cause may be just, sometimes, but the way they choose to fight for it is very harmful to society and dangerous ;) I am sure you can find many examples by watching the news ;) And when we are talking about human life the cause doesn't justify the means.

[islandclimber]

well violent civil disobedience helps to reduce the "surplus population" to quote ebeneezer scrooge... lol... but I don't think saying that will help win the debate... might lift some eyebrows though... and what's funner winning, or shocking??? I think we all know the answer to that, lol...

[barbara0207]

Have you considered Mahatma Gandhi, one of the most prominent examples, or Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King?

[V.Jayalakshmi]

Yes,do a google for Mahatma Gandhi.His writings on 'Satyagraha' which was his method of civil disobedience will give you lots of insights.So Too I think Martin Luther King.