Civil Disobedience

Civil Disobedience

Henry David Thoreau expresses his thoughts and opinions about government and civil disobedience in his story Resistance to Civil Government. Through this we see that Thoreau feels that the government makes unjust laws, and unless it is fair to everyone, people should not conform to these laws. He demonstrates this by saying, "But a government in which the majority rule in all cases cannot be based on justice, even as far as men understand it." (213). In such cases, Thoreau believes that civil disobedience is the appropriate answer; that breaking away from what you believe to be unjust or not right is the best response. He firmly believed in individuality and sticking up for what is right, even if it goes against the major belief as he explains, "The only obligation I have to assume, is to do at any time what I think is right." (213) Overall, Thoreau's beliefs include breaking away from unjust government, and sticking up for what is right in every situation.

Mohandas Gandhi followed similar beliefs to those of Thoreau, relying on nonviolent protesting to change the ways of the unjust government. "There are two ways of countering injustice. One way is to smash the head of the man who perpetrates injustice and to get your own head smashed in the process." (220) Through civil disobedience, he broke away from the South African government, making a loud statement and eventually changing the government for the benefit of his people. Gandhi believed that the government couldn't control you unless you let it; "You are our sovereign, our government, only so long as we consider ourselves your subjects." (221) By being independent, not considering himself as a subject of the government, and leading a huge group of people in the direction of justice through peace, Gandhi made a huge difference and influence on many lives.

Martin Luther King Jr. also demonstrated very similar ideas to Thoreau's, and Gandhi's as well. He followed in the same peaceful footsteps while simultaneously breaking from government's injustice. He agreed with the quote "An unjust law is no law at all." (222), which motivated him to do everything in his ability to change these unfair rules. Like Gandhi, he used nonviolence to break from the government and eventually change its ways. We see the origin of his actions in his words, "One who breaks an unjust law must do it openly, lovingly, and with a willingness to accept the penalty." (222) As you can see, Martin Luther King Jr. was another great influence with the same beliefs and good morals as the others.