Civil disobedience, also known as passive resistance is the act of refusal to obey the demands of a government or occupying power without resorting to violence or active measures of opposition. Its useful purpose to force concessions from the government or occupying power. Civil disobedience has been a major tactic and philosophy of nationalist movements in Africa and India. Martin Luther King Jr., Henry David Thoreau, and Gandhi are three men who put the use of civil disobedience into play very
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I would draw the conclusion that civil disobedience could be used as a good or bad thing. I also feel that violence is not the answer to any situation no matter what. I also feel that sometimes if force is given then you have to return it to get your point across. Violence is never the first choice though; you always should find other ways to handle problems. Parents sacrifice thing to better their children the right way, an example is sitting down and talking to them instead of beating their child
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“Civil Disobedience” Henry David Thoreau’s essay, “Civil Disobedience,” begins by saying, “I heartily accept the motto,-’That government is best which governs least,’” he believed realistically that this is how government should be (177). He goes on to say what he really believes is, “That government is best which governs none at all” (Thoreau 177). Thoreau does not agree with many of the governments laws and believes that in order to follow many of the laws it would mean not having a conscience
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Diaz 1 Scarlett Diaz Period 2 American Lit. January 16, 2012 One Pager: Civil Disobedience In the article “Undocumented Immigrants Take Cause to Defiant New Level” by Daniel Gonzalez, the author states that illegal immigrants of Arizona and other states are protesting the new “show me your papers” law. The “show me your papers” law was passed in 2010 in Arizona by a majority vote. This new law would allow government officials to ask anyone who they suspected to be in the country illegally
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Well thats just like, your opinion, man; an essay on Civil Disobedience Much like The Dude in regards to Jesus, I believe the basis of our current government is merely an arbitrary cataclysm of opinions. Two select groups of inherent, feuding opinions that, if one is an accepted member of American Society, is forced to pursue. Of course, these organized parties of opinions allow for some individual choice but only to the extent of deciding to be an active member of the democrat or republican
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Wintermantel 1 Clayton Wintermantel Mrs. ButellHuntoon Composition ll 5 March 2015 In his essay “Civil Disobedience,” it is clear to see how Henry Thoreau expresses his disapproval for the United States government. His multiple rhetorical appeals such as logos, pathos and ethos invoke the reader to side by focusing his ideas around our democratic government. The three main ideas that Thoreau relates to are the idea as government as an expedient, the government will not enterpr
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“Civil Disobedience” Imagine living in a world where you completely disagree with a law or rule. Everyone in this world is required to obey this law, but your beliefs do not allow you to do the same. You can not carry on with being an obedient citizen so you break the rules. In the conclusion of breaking the laws, you have gotten into serious trouble. You are no longer living safe and in harmony. You are asking me if it is justifiable to break the rules in certain circumstances. I think in no circumstances
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Jade Green October 17, 2013 Civil Disobedience Laws are made to ultimately better the people, yet some laws are not always made to better all the people. This fact is not stated to be overlooked but to be altered. The Declaration of Independence states, “all men are created equal”, but the word “all” somehow excluded African Americans, women, and others; words mean nothing when the actions do not follow them. Henry David Thoreau’s “Civil Disobedience” challenges individuals to stop shying away
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Civil disobedience is peacefully protesting against laws or governmental demands that are viewed as immoral. Throughout history this strategy has been used as a way to stand up for one’s morals against unjust laws. People who have used, and strongly believed in this method include: Henry David Thoreau, Frederick Douglass, Malcolm X, The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Mahatma Gandhi, and many others. After analyzing several documents concerning dissent, I can conclude that one should use civil
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pay taxes, the objection to cast a vote, and the rejection of personal property are all declarations of disapproval directed to an unjust government. The people of any unfair system are obligated to tailor their government through relentless civil disobedience or rebellion. For the sake of the governed, immediate action, or lack of action, must be taken when a government deviates from its course. It is not a man’s duty to eliminate any wrong, but he must not participate in any wrongdoing. With such
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Andrew Richardson ENGL 1001 Paper #2 Mr. Thoreau, My name is Andrew Jay Richardson, and like many other people, I read your inspiring paper “Civil Disobedience.” Even though I am a farmer from the great state of Indiana with a low education (according to most), I understood your paper quit fluently. If you would take the time to read my thoughts on your revolutionary paper I would be most obliged. Now Mr. Thoreau, you start off your paper stating “I heartily accept the Motto” “”That government
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Dylan Schneider F Band English Civil Disobedience The stand against “Dunnes stores” really symbolizes the actions that you’re supposed to present when you believe in a certain purpose. I really admire these workers because I would take the same stand as they did if I was as passionate as they are. One example that I truly feel has a connection for taking a stand in what you believe in is how on February 1, 1960, four African American college students sat down at a lunch counter at Woolworth’s
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In “Civil Disobedience”, Thoreau criticizes not only a useless government but also incompetent citizens who sit idly by while the government does as it pleases. Thoreau’s direct piece calls for inherent human action to comply with the intelligence of man to stand against an unfitting government. Thoreau’s analysis of government and the way its run sets the stage for his argument. He criticizes the dwindling integrity of “the government itself, which is only the mode which the people have chosen
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Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “One has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws.” If Martin Luther King Jr. and countless others had not protested during the Civil Right movement there would still be segregation and inequality. Without a doubt, there are times when it is justifiable to break a law in a democratic society. If rights are being denied, if the majority feel it is an unjust law, or even if the minorities (being that they are experts on the subject) feel it is wrong as well. Despite
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Letter From Birmingham In April of 1963, Martin Luther King, Jr., was jailed in Birmingham, Alabama for his efforts in the civil rights movement. One day after King's arrest, a full-page advertisement taken out by a group of local, white, moderate, clergymen appeared in The Birmingham News. They attacked the demonstrations as "unwise and untimely" and concluded, "We do not believe that these days of new hope are days when extreme measures are justified in Birmingham. From his prison cell, King
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Carlos Aviles English 1301 Mr. Kederli San Antonio College 5/12/15 Journal “Kill em’! Crush em”! Eat em’ raw! In this essay the author John McMurtry talks about his personal experience with football and the negative aspects that it brings involving our bodies, injuries and coaches. McMurtry goes into detail on explain the many different injuries that he suffered while playing football at a high school, college and professional level. McMurtry also explains how football fans and coaches
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TO DISOBEY FOR HOPE Civil disobedience can affect civilization in a heartfelt way. It can allow one to stand out of the crowd and let his or her voice be heard. But why must it be one who speaks? If everyone stands up for what is right, every individual can be heard. Erich Fromm and Henry David Thoreau are the masterminds of civil disobedience. They describe the term as if speaking of a great force. Civil disobedience is simply living. Living life to the fullest, taking risks and doing what
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helped gain India independence in 1947. His actions were courageous, brave, and purposeful. Gandhi’s experiences in South Africa helped him shape his ideas on British imperialism, his religious influences, and sense of moral value, and his use of civil disobedience to lead India to independence from Great Britain was efficient and intelligent. After watching the movie Gandhi in class, I learned about the great things this man has done not only for India, but also for the whole world. I think that Gandhi’s
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reservation, break the law, but rather to damage a law’s reputation. In these circumstances, undermining the law is only justified when a group of people can affect a significant change without bloodshed. From Gandhi’s nonviolent resistance in India to the civil rights movement in the United States, peaceful movements have become key elements of political change. Undermining the rule of law peacefully is justified when conventional politics are not responsive in situations that violate justice, human rights
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Gandhi’s overall message of non-violence. Gandhi had two types of Satyagraha. The first type was civil disobedience, which meant you had to break a law and not resist arrest. People normally connected “disobedience” with acting out or making a scene, but in actuality everything he did was peaceful. When it came to protesting and being arrested, Gandhi was very polite, and civil. The goal of Gandhi’s civil
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In the opinions of civil disobedience by Henry David Thoreau, he discusses his ideals of self-governing and justifications for fighting for an important cause. Throughout the first part of this piece, Thoreau plays with the idea that there should be no government. He believes that the people can govern themselves, and due to their ethics and conscience, they will benefit the nation as opposed to having total chaos. He says that by being constricted and bound by the government people are not able
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EPICENTER OF THE EARTHQUAKE: A PAPER ON THE EFFECTS OF CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE ON CITIZEN-STATE RELATIONSHIP IN SOPHOCLES’ ANTIGONE BY OKOYE GOSIFE DONALD FOR HISTORY 100: CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE FROM ANCIENT GREECE TO MODERN AFRICA SUBMITTED ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5TH, 2013 PLEDGED: Democracy is defined as “That form of government in which the sovereign power resides in and is exercised by the whole body of free citizens directly or indirectly through a system of representation.” (Black's
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Civil Disobedience Civil Disobedience, by Henry David Thoreau was written in the year of 1848. Thoreau, born in 1817, was an abolitionist, author and poet. He gave lectures often against the use of slavery in the United States. Thoreau intended for his essay to explain his thoughts and feelings toward the American government at that time. He was unsatisfied with the way the politicians were running the country. He disagreed with the war that was going on between America and Mexico and he also was
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Jimmy Haugen English 102 Civil Disobedience August 29, 2012 “The government is best in which governs not at all”(Thoreau 361). This is the general idea behind Civil Disobedience. Henry Thoreau is a known philosopher for his writings that go against American institutions. Civil Disobedience shows Thoreau’s opinion that the human conscience is how we dictate our lives, we do not dictate our lives by what the government tells us. He shows this when he says, “The only obligation which I have a right
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marquee leader who led India to independence by rallying civil rights movements, laborers, peasants, and other organizations against excessive discrimination by the British rule in the country. In 1921, Gandhi took the leadership of the Indian National Congress, which was a key participant in the protests against the British taxes. Gandhi used his unshakable belief in the theory of nonviolent civil disobedience, which gave a clear understanding of civil protests to the locals. This paper will show that
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Allie McInerney Mrs. Duff American Literature, 2nd hour 14 November 2014 “On the Duty of Civil Disobedience” Analysis Essay An author of the 1800s, Henry David Thoreau, in his essay, “On the Duty of Civil Disobedience,” instills a feeling of power in his readers by discussing the civilians and their government. Thoreau’s purpose is to inform his readers on the ways the government has wronged the people. He wants the readers to feel as if they have been taken advantage of by the government in order
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merican Civil Rights Movement were social movements in the United States aimed at outlawing racial discrimination against black Americans and restoring voting rights to them. This article covers the phase of the movement between 1955 and 1968, particularly in the South. The wave of inner city riots from 1964 through 1970 undercut support from the white community. The emergence of the Black Power Movement, which lasted from about 1966 to 1975, challenged the established black leadership for its cooperative
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action needed to be taken. This process is exactly what the people of the Boston Tea Party, Thoreau and Martin Luther King did in order for their respective causes - their respective voices - to be heard. Through their respective practices of civil disobedience, the claim that unjust laws can benefit society as a whole is clearly proven to be correct. Within each of the respective causes, the men and women called for action when their governments were degrading the people of their rights. Before
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and fart smells good does fart actually smell good? that is an intelligent question that I ponder daily as I lay in my bed looking up at the star studded ceiling. I must continue to peruse this question. The demonstrations arose as an act of civil disobedience—organized as “Occupy Central with Peace and Love”. Hong Kong citizens are protesting China’s decision to only allow Communist Chinese candidates to run in the city’s elections for the position of chief executive for all future elections. The
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emergency arises, but its considered that the government will not go that far. I believe this issue does not contribute to civil disobedience because it can by pass all laws to do what's right for the people. This act is intact for the welfare of its citizens. War Measures Act. Liberalism • This topic is a challenge to liberalism because liberals support free, fair elections, civil rights and freedom. This act violate their belief's because the government is making a big decision for the country without
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