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The importance of civil disobedience
Thoreau impact civil disobedience
Thoreau impact civil disobedience
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More handpicked essays just for you.
The importance of civil disobedience
Thoreau impact civil disobedience
Thoreau impact civil disobedience
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., and Mandela Make a Change Mohandas Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., and Mandela, all had a vision of a world where equality was amongst the different races. The leaders decided to lead protests in favor of equality. This led to a lot of diversity between views. Violence broke out against the protesters but they were determined to fight for their beliefs. Peacefully protesting, completely avoiding violence, and accepting punishments, were all reasons these leaders’ movements could be considered successful today.
Resistance to Civil Government (Civil Disobedience) is a dissertation written by American abolitionist, author and philosopher Henry David Thoreau published by Elizabeth Peabody in the Aesthetic Papers in 1849. Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) was born and lived almost his life in Concord, Massachusetts. After finishing public and private school in Concord he attended the prestige Harvard University. He excelled at Harvard despite leaving school for several months due to health and financial setbacks. Mr. Thoreau graduated in the top half of his class in 1837.
Mohandas K. Gandhi, an Indian nationalist who advocated civil disobedience, said, “You can chain me, you can torture me, you can even destroy this body, but you will never imprison my mind.”. In other words, Gandhi means that no amount of agony will cause him to change his beliefs. He implies that no matter what way he experiences abuse, the British will not be able to stop him and his fight for independence. No physical barrier can hinder Gandhi’s capability to stand for what he believes in. Throughout his life, Gandhi crossed paths with the police and was in and out of jail.
Civil Disobedience Compare and Contrast Henry Thoreau and Martin Luther King both wrote persuasive discussions that oppose many ideals and make a justification of their cause, being both central to their argument. While the similarity is obvious, the two essays, Civil Disobedience by Thoreau and Letter from a Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King Jr. do have some similarities. King tries persuading white, southern clergymen that segregation is an evil, unfair law that ought to defeat by use of agitation of direct protesting. Thoreau, on the other hand, writes to a broader, non-addressed audience, and focuses more on the state itself. He further accepts it at its current state, in regard to the battle with Mexico and the institution of slavery.
This is quite remarkable considering that he lived in the years of 1817-1862, which is approximately 150 years ago. Yes, this is a very long time for us to imagine, but for Thoreau’s ideas and concepts of Civil Disobedience that is an extremely long time. When looking at Thoreau’s infamous ideas on “Civil Disobedience” there are many aspects inspiring to us still today.
Many of these people stood up for similar or the same groups. “Must the citizen ever for a moment, or in the least degree, resign his conscience to the legislation?" (Saxby). This quote is from Thoreau’s Civil Disobedience. Thoreau believed that the public was being oppressed by their government and that government stifled free-thinking and free will.
Both Civil Disobedience and the Gandhi article are alike based on the fact they both discuss civil disobedience, attending prison, and standing for one’s beliefs. Civil disobedience can be seen as a good thing and a bad thing depending on to what extent one is breaking the laws. Some people may break the law because they feel that it is unfair to them but others break the for the simple fact of doing what they want in order for it to benefit themselves. Laws are meant for the majority which means even if they are not pertaining to certain citizens. Thoreau targeted laws that pertained to him, Gandhi went on strike for the better of his country and people.
Civil disobedience can mean many things to many people. To some people it could mean a non-violent means of protesting or attempting to achieve political goals; however, in the eyes of people like Martin Luther King Jr it could be different. He stated that “one has the moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws”. Martin Luther King Jr prove this by doing many non-violent protest during his time, to fight against segregation. The meaning of civil disobedience is a bit different in Henry Thoreau’s eyes.
Henry David Thoreau was a philosopher, poet, and a very outspoken person about society. He discusses his opinions on how people should live in his essay “Where I Lived and What I Lived For.” Thoreau's philosophy of simplicity and individualism and self-sufficiency poses many dangers for communities as a whole. Although there are many setbacks, his philosophy is, however, still viable today. Thoreau strongly advocates self-sufficiency and individualism in this essay.
Where there is Energy: there is life Having Energy means having life yet we are running out of fuel. How are we going to survive if our energy sources are depleting. We must make a change. Confucius and Henry David Thoreau would argue upon whose responsibility the stewardship of natural resources would depend on, but both would agree that either the individuals, or a society should take action.
Other works by Thoreau include Civil Disobedience, Poems of Nature, Life Without Principle and many more.
Mohandas Gandhi is one of the greatest nonviolent activists ever. Gandhi came up with the word ahimsa, which meant nonviolence. He also introduced to the world the word satyagraha, which meant peaceful civil disobedience. In 1930 Gandhi and a group of followers began a march of more than 200 miles. Three and a half weeks later they made it to their destination, the sea.
The African Nelson Mandela and the American Martin Luther King are important and influential heroes who made the world better somehow, in terms to fight for black people rights in their country. According to (www.dictionary.com), a hero is defined as “ the man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities”. Certainly, both heroes had the courage to sacrifice for black people with extreme power to resist the racism in the past using various ways. It is clear that the two heroes met their ambitions, but Mandela made bigger change worldwide and he was inspirational leader with severe willingness to fight for justice. Nelson Mandela and Martin King lived many similar situations which led to their great effort.
This citation shows that Thoreau did not want to follow the laws. Thoreau also believed in living life by following moral law and not law stated in the constitution. Thoreau also believed that the government does best if it does not rule over the people. In the essay Civil Disobedience it says “That government is best which governs least”. This shows what Thoreau felt the government should not do.
It takes a lot out of one person to gain power. Throughout history nonviolence has been proven to overcome violence including; Egypt, India and the USA. Many people think that violence will solve all problems. In fact the best way for the oppressed to gain power is by nonviolence. Many people say that violence is never the answer.