The following discussion will focus on the importance of such people in the society.

Introduction

Outlaws could be defined as the people go choose to go beyond the society’s accepted rules band regulations for the purpose of bringing a change. Some outlaws are out for the criminal activities while others are motivated to liberate the society from the oppressive rule by those in power. Outlaw heroes therefore can be said to be people who have accepted to go through all kinds of suffering for the sake of making a better society. The following discussion will focus on the importance of such people in the society.

Discussion

The culture of the ruling class in most cases dictate the policies that are going to be employed when in comes to the formulation of the rules to govern the people. Those who are in power will always want to maintain their social status and any kind of change that is seen to threaten that state is rejected. That is the reason there is always a conflict when it comes to the making of the constitution that will bring about equality. People who own the means of production would not want this as they prefer obtaining cheap labor from the less fortunate members thereby enriching themselves more The voice of the marginalized and the less fortunate members of the society on the other hand go unnoticed and so long as these dominant people remain in power, these poor people continue to suffer.

In such a society, there is a need to have someone who is visionary and want to transcend the society’s reasoning by bringing positive change and equality. Such people are just ordinary but who are courageous enough to point out the flaws and all the kinds of injustices that people go through with an aim of making the relevant authority realize that there is need for fair treatment.

The world has witnessed a number of such people who though dead, are still remembered for their courageous work. In this discussion, we rely on the works of Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Mary Fair (founder of the Women Political Party). The two will assist us in getting to understand why we need people who see beyond the conventional status.

One of the most important things that the outlaw heroes are known for is helping the people to change their thinking. When people are so oppressed they may reach to a point of fatalism. This is when they believe that it is fate that determines their destiny and that there is nothing that can be done to change their status. This is what was happening in Montgomery where the blacks were urged to continue praying hoping that things will be better. However, racial discrimination and segregation intensified and prayers therefore did not seem to work and therefore something better needed to be done to change the situation.

Outlaw heroes therefore come with an aim if making people to change their held beliefs and attitudes. They challenge the societies who have been blinded by the current situation by awakening them from their comfort zones.

In India for instance, Mahatma saw the importance of making India produce their own goods instead of importing from abroad. Initially, people depended on the developed countries to provide them with clothing and other finished goods. Being a wise and visionary leader, he saw the danger in that and called for the introduction of the cottage industries which could produce local goods.

Most societies are not aware of the resources that they are endowed with unless someone points them. India was able to open cottage industries that began to produce cloths and brought an end to the importation which was both expensive and a threat to the infant industries.

Outlaw heroes enable the society to realize that they are the reason why things are not done the right way. The superior people in the society will continue manipulating the weak so long as they will remain silent and do nothing. This had been the case during the colonial period where most societies were oppressed and humiliated until when they spoke their minds out against such ruthless acts.

In India for instance, Mahatma decided to begin what he used to refer as passive resistance or non-violent resistance. This is where people take to the streets a peaceful demonstration but with a strong message to the ruling authority that the society has lost faith. Though the process may be slow and ignored, it is a courageous way that is meant to awaken the government to realize that the people are unsatisfied and they may begin to change some of their policies.

That method is different from what Karl Max called for in order to liberate the society (Bhana & Vahed 77). He said that the only way the minority’s voice can be heard is through a revolution which in most cases will involve shedding of innocent blood. However, Mahatma decided to use a peaceful demonstration which bore the fruits without any body getting harm.

The society’s voice can also be realized when they participate in voting which is their political right. It can be noted that the blacks in Montgomery had despised this kind of activity. This is owing to the fact that the Women Political Party which was founded in 1946 by Dr. Mary Fair sought to challenge the people to vote (Gibson 23). The Negroes had lost their hopes as nothing positive seemed to be coming. They were going through the same challenges and the government could not help them. However, this great woman together with other scholars helped them to change their perspective and encouraged them to participate in voting. Apart from that, the blacks were also encouraged to vie to posts and help themselves in solving the challenges that are known better to them.

The other importance thing that can be learnt from the outlaw heroes is that there is need for one to sacrifice for the sake of the society. Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, and many other heroes will be remembered as the people who denied themselves pleasures of life for the sake of the society. They abandoned even their families so that they can make a better place for the future generation.

These heroes passed through hard moments that were enough to discourage them from continuing to fight. They were imprisoned and some even tortured not because of their personal lives but the whole society (Fischer 46). This is important as it passes the message to the society that there is need to go beyond the self and think what one can do for the society. It is a good demonstration of maturity when one is able to sacrifice the resources that they have for the sake of the less fortunate in the society.

The outlaw heroes may also be useful tools that bring about the transformation in the society in terms of their behavior. Majority of people who are oppressed in the society suffer from low self-esteem or inferiority complex. As a result, they may indulge in dangerous activities which pose threat to their lives. Such an incidence is what the Women Political Party in Montgomery sought to fight. The Negroes were segregated in that they could not travel in the same seats with the white people. They were not supposed to question the drivers who were white concerning the wrong change that they received. For instance, it is said that a lady by the name of Miss Kate was arrested for sitting in seats meant for the white people not forgetting another Negro by the name of Brooks who was shot by the police for allegedly arguing with a white driver.

As a result of those oppressions, many Negroes spoilt their lives in drugs, crimes and juvenile delinquency. Dr. Mary Fair knew that the only way that these people could deliberate themselves is by first accepting themselves, raise their self esteem and finally stop wasting their lives. By dong so, she succeeded in convincing many young black men and women change their attitudes and fight for their justice.

The outlaw heroes have also helped to end social evils and instill a sense of harmony in the society. Many people have died in many parts of the world due to the issue of race. In this, some races feel that they are by far better and intelligent than others. As a result, they have been found to mistreat the race considered inferior. There is always some disharmony when this is the case and conflict will always arise. This was the case in south Africa where the blacks were required to carry a pass when they traveled from one place to another. As a result, there was resistance and most of them were killed.

However, the voices of great people such as the Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela enabled the society to have cultural relativity in that all races are equal. Nature is diverse and people have different ways of doing things. To understand a particular race, one is required to have empathy and this has been seen to contribute to the peace building process.

The work that was done by these great heroes can be felt today as most of the people shun racism which locked particular people out of opportunities. Black and white people can now work in the same office and hold many functions together. They have also gone to the point of taking the most top seats in the political arena because all the prejudice and discrimination was fought by some of these outlaw heroes.

Conclusion

The outlaws could be seen as people out to cause disharmony in the society but in the end, the fruit of their work is realized. Many outlaw heroes went through difficult moment in their attempt to liberate the society and this sends a message that freedom and justice does not come easily but has to be fought for. They assist the society to demand for their rights and the need to be involved in the national development issues and maintaining the equality for all.

Reference

Jo. Ann Gibson: The Montgomery Bus Boycott and the women who started it. The university of Tennessee Press. 8th Edition, p. 23 2005

Grace Mureno: Nine most Outrageous Outlaw Heroes HYPERLINK “http://www.oddee.com/item_96687.aspx. published 5/28/2009” http://www.oddee.com/item_96687.aspx. published 5/28/2009.

Prilleltensky, Isaac. Humanistic Psychology, Human Welfare and the Social Order The Journal of Mind And Behaviour 13 (4): 315–327. 1997

Bhana, Surendra and Goolam Vahed. The Making of a Political Reformer: Gandhi in South Africa, 1893–1914. New Delhi: Manohar, 2005.

Fischer, L. The Essential Gandhi: An Anthology of His Writings on His Life, Work, and Ideas. Vintage: New York, ISBN 1-4000-3050-1 2002