NCHS AP English Language

Ignorance vs. Responsiblity LINDSAY MILLER- B

If one is raised believing something and acts on it, even if their action is wrong, are they responsible? Once can take two standpoints on this question, namely: yes or no. An example to help analyze this question would be Beckwith, the rogue gunman who shot and killed the head of the NAACP in his time. Was Beckwith a mere pawn amongst the extreme racism of the south or not? That is the question.
Firstly, one may take the viewpoint that Beckwith was a mere pawn of the South, not responsible for his actions. Ever since Beckwith was born, he was raised believing in white superiority, that because he was white, he was above all others not like him. He truly believed that what he was doing was meant to be and right. There fore, is he responsible?
On the contrary, one could take the point of view that Beckwith was indeed responsible for his actions, that he had his own mind, knew what was honestly right or wrong and chose wrong. Every person knows, by unwritten natural law, that to kill something outside of hunger and territorial dispute is wrong. Beckwith had a conscience and knew that to murder someone, anyone, no matter his or her color, was, ultimately, wrong. Lastly, the murder was premeditated and well thought out. He had time to think about it; he did not just do it randomly or impulsively. Thus, he had enough evaluation time to realize that his action was wrong. Therefore, how is he not responsible?
In brief, Beckwith truly believed what he was doing was right; yet he also knew that murder was wrong. Is he responsible for the murder or not? Ultimately, one may never know because there is just no way to decide upon this pressing question.

posted by NCHS AP English Language III @ 7:59 AM