When looking at as issue as right or wrong, it is imperative that the issue be categorized into either a matter of legality or morality. While some may be both, the simple fact that an action may be immoral does not qualify it as necessarily illegal. The film A Man That Broke A Thousand Chains, based on the true story of Robert Elliott Burns, showcases many examples of morality and legality. If an action is immoral, that means it defies ones moral code and is commonly perceived as wrong based on what one values. If an action is regarded as illegal, it is one that breaks a law and requires just punishment. Once he escaped out of the Georgia camp, he made a move to Chicago, where he found a quaint boarding house to live in. The lovely female owner and Robert soon became very close; he told her his secret after she read it in his writings.
They loved each other, though he did not want a commitment. After blackmailing Robert into marrying her, she became very jealous and ended up letting his secret out after she became very angry for not receiving enough attention. Being a big businessman of a huge magazine, this move was devastating. He was then sent back to the camp in Georgia, losing not only his fortune from business, but his new found love, Lillian. Though turning in an escaped convict is more legal than not, being what one would call a tattletale on account of being jealous or angry is wrong. His wifes decision to turn her love over to the police was an act that showed cold-heartedness and most would say is wrong, since it seems wrong and foolish to incriminate ones close friend. Though this action resulted in legal issues, this one case was a moral case.
The Essay on Human Rights Greenpeace Action Issues
In this vast contemporary society, many voices go unheard. Our society struggles to break free from the problems it presents to us. Problems such as the environment, human rights, animal rights, and peace among nations continue to exist. Organizations such as Greenpeace, Sierra Club, and Amnesty are 3 of the biggest associations to help fight and put a cease to the world's troubles. Greenpeace is ...
When Robert first left home, he was desperate for money and was convinced to join a man who promised some profit. Unfortunately, Robert went with the criminal and was pulled into an armed robbery. Robert unwillingly followed the criminals orders and held a shopkeeper at gunpoint. As a beginning of the unfair tale, Robert was the only one captured and was tried. No matter his unwillingness or disagreement to the armed robbery, he still took part in it. An armed robbery is quite obviously legally wrong; it is illegal to steal money, and more illegal yet to do it at gunpoint. Also, it is morally wrong.
The robber should not have stolen any of the shopkeepers money; he earned it. It is also morally wrong that Robert went along with such a deed. As seen in the movie, the courts in that state only regarded the law- that it is illegal to commit armed robbery. As shown, an action can be either morally wrong or legally wrong, but one does not guarantee the other. An action may be both, but not necessarily. Another issue that was against morals but not specifically law was when one of the prison camp bosses lied to another boss to ensure that Robert was whipped. Since the boss did not see whether Robert has missed a lick or not, he should not have said that he did.
This mere action threw Robert into a world of pain, and had no effect on the boss. It is not illegal to simply lie, though in this case one would wish it to be. Even if the law stated that prison bosses must be honest or simply treat their inmate with civility, there certainly was no assurance that this would be upheld in the generally corrupt camp. All of the bosses overall were in a morally wrong area with many of their actions. One cannot help but feel pity for the hardship Burns had to endure, with crimes of moral and legal value thrown at him at many times in his life. Though escaping the camp was illegal, most would agree that it set of a chain of events that led to ultimate freedom and a moral and legal victory..
