P3+DSchlutz

As humans, we have to make important decisions; these decisions include judging right from wrong, and finding a way to confront in justice. Individuals see what is right based on what is necessary for survival, what is morally and ethically correct, people uniting to pursue a common good, etc. Wrong, can alternatively be found in moral and ethical wrongs, and includes exploitation of the people by the government, or any other power. When a person discovers the wrongs and injustices within his society, he has the role of quelling said injustices. His role is to rally for the support of his fellow man and stand against the injustice; whether in protest, boycott, revolt, or revolution. Injustice in society has to be dealt with. These points are discussed in John Steinbeck’s //The Grapes of Wrath//, Henry David Thoreau’s //Civil Disobedience// Part I and II, and Lars Eighner’s “On Dumpster Diving”.

During the Great Depression exploitation of lower classes was more prevalent that ever. This exploitation was the norm for all lower classes; such is seen for the Joad family in Steinbeck’s //The Grapes of Wrath//. The Joads were farmers in Oklahoma who were having trouble harvesting corn. The bank had loaned them money, and the time had come for the Joads to pay back their debt; unfortunately, they had to money to do so. The bank had according foreclosed the farm and the Joads were now homeless. When representatives of the bank came, they brought the dire news. The land had been in the Joad family for generations, and now it would be cultivated by heartless machines. The representatives who brought the news apologized, “…every man in the bank hates what the bank does…” the bank is a money vile hungry machine, devouring all it can get, and when it runs out, it dies. (Steinbeck) The Joads faced the justified wrong doing of the bank and were left aghast. The capitalistic society of America thrives on competition, and the Joads’ farm had fallen behind the status quo.

The Joads were being forced out of their sacred plot of land and left to find a new way of life. They decided to immigrate to California. The Joads had to sell all items that were not vital to their passage to California. When they went to the buyers so they could sell their old lives, the buyers offered only ridiculously low prices, and the Joads could do nothing about it. The buyers didn’t just purchase the Joads’ closets, mowers, toasters, and rakes, but also bought resentment towards their exploitation. (Steinbeck) The farmers faced hardship and exploitation by richer classes throughout the novel. They were torn from the land, by bankers and tractors. The tractors that had moved the Joads out of their homestead can be compared to tanks, “…people are driven, intimidated, hurt by both.” (Steinbeck)  The wrongs that the Joad family faced were great, they were evicted, exploited, and when they finally made it to California they were still aghast. However, in California, they met by a good that proved exceptionally helpful.

Considering all the atrocities that the Joads had faced in CA, including oppression by the locals who thought they were miscreant beggars, and the farm owners, who saws them as slaves, the Joads attained power through numbers. When families of farmers, like the Joads, immigrated in large numbers to a new promising California ; now there was a large population, and they were able to unite for a common good. Although they were resented by the locals as socialist, the farmers formed groups in which they could thrive. When they united “…twenty families became one family…”, and everyone got along. (Steinbeck) They formed a utopian community, where everyone worked together and every one had an essential role. The farmers were able to combine their knowledge of farming to perfect their fields. They were…“…proud, for of their knowledge they [could] make the year heavy…” with great harvests. (Steinbeck)  The good of the efficiency of the united farmers helped them face the troubles they had with more confidence. Another thing that individuals see as right in society is anything that is necessary for survival.

The quest for survival in society is partaken by all, but a few members of society have to resort to measures as drastic as Dumpster diving. Though many people may be skeptical to view Dumpster diving as good, without it a starving percentage of people would go with even less food. For, those who find themselves needy enough, can search for edible meals within the confines of Dumpsters; whether they find food thrown away by a college student thrown out after a break, or a half eaten sandwich thrown away in any given location. Lars Eighner was an attendant at a hospital until his financial career was reaching a depression. One year before he lost his job he began looking in dumpsters for food. (Eighner) Dumpster diving is a right as opposed to a wrong because it is a way for the underprivileged to thrive; although it is a good, it would be better if it wasn’t necessary. It is an injustice that the rich feast on extravagant meals whilst poor classes scavenge for scraps in Dumpsters.

It is important for people to change injustice. Injustice is an evil which can be done away with by the actions of men. If one man makes a strong enough stand against any injustice, the injustice is doomed. Such was the case for Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King, those who signed the Declaration of Independence, and future reformers and revolutionaries to come. It is the responsibility for man to make stands against injustice, for if they not only allow injustice to persist, but also add to the obstacles that reformers face. (Thoreau) Those who are impartial to governments, give it their silent acceptance, this is the case for the German citizens who watched as Hitler took office. It is the citizens of societies who are the greatest at reforming their society, not those in office. Those in office spend are far to much “…within the institution…” that they “…never distinctly and nakedly behold it.” (Thoreau)  They aren’t able to step back and take everything at face value, and are only fed info through eager assistances. Such is the case for King Louis XVI, who wasn’t able to notice the severity in France until it was far too late. Revolutions and changes in government are vital for the maintenance of liberty and justice throughout the world.

In the case of judging right from wrong, individuals made judgments by search for evils and exploitation and evaluating fairness, humanitarianism, and the uniting for a common good. When and if a person finds injustice, it is their duty to root it out to the best of their possibility. Injustice is a disease that can rot society at its core, corrupting politicians, police, and the populous. Rooting out injustice can be dangerous for reformers, but many reformers had gladly lost their lives in the quest for correcting a wrong they have noticed in society.