Responding to the Oppression

Oppression is something that has been prevalent throughout our classes. After all, things such as racism are deeply rooted within many societies and America is no different. The topic for discussion here, however, is the thought of a violent response to oppression. Should oppression be met with a violent response.

I personally feel that violence is not a solution to the problems that are faced. An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind, after all. Unfortunately in situations of racism, oppressing in everyday interactions including schools, violence is occasionally an end that is reached. Peaceful protests can be met with police brutality or protests can turn violent in serious cases.

To answer the question; no. Oppression should not be met with a violent response. Rather, protests and cases should be used. While deeply rooted opinions are hard or seemingly impossible to change, changes are made all the time. The important thing to remember is that violence is not the only way to bring a change.

A Romanticized View On Prohibition

Going in to Prohibition on alcohol there were many good intentions and I feel this is the driving factor for why Prohibition is and has been romanticized. On the side of the women it was an opportunity for more safety in the home. If the production and selling of alcohol was illegal than it would be harder for the menfolk to come home drunk and be violent towards the women and children who lived in the home. When thinking of the World War, the ingredients that would have been used on alcohol would instead be used for making rations for soldiers. Since many breweries were run by German Americans it was a way to make things harder on those people, especially since so many of the breweries had to close.

Looking at all of this possibilities it certainly seems like this is something that the entire nation should experience. This is the romanticized view of Prohibition; a road to hell paved with good intentions. There were many downsides to Prohibition and people went on selling alcohol illegally. This event is romanticized because of all the possibilities it held and what it could have done. Sadly the event is romanticized for a reason and it did not live up to expectations. Looking at the positives and negatives, does anyone feel that the romanticized view is justified and reasonable?