Law and Resistance: American Attitudes Toward Authority

by Laurence R. Veysey (Editor)

A collection of unusual readings on the historical roots of violence, dissent, patriotic consensus and the role of the police in America from the frontier period to the present.

355 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1970

Reviews

[Frederick]

While this book is filled with primary sources of the writings of those from the past regarding authority in all of its forms in America the best part of it is close to the end. The address by William H. Parker, new police chief of Los Angeles, to a radio audience in 1950 combined with an address delivered to the Fifty Ninth Annual Conference of the International Association of Chiefs of Police in 1952 are very enlightening as to what policing is and what it isn't. An example of these memorable speeches is, "Law exists, not because we do agree on what is right and wrong, but because we do not agree. A universally accepted standard of ethics does not exist. To prevent anarchy, it is necessary to impose this artificial standard based on majority agreement." (p. 313) Another thing he says that is very sharp is that many people commit crime and don't even think they are doing anything wrong, in fact they think it is the right thing to do or justified at the time. Very interesting points he makes, many more better than what I've mentioned here. The book is worth a read if you have the patience to get through many writings, many opinions on law and order and authority.