Civil Disobedience Essay

Civil Disobedience

Starting early from the 19^th century until even to the late 20^th century there had been many acts of civil disobedience and people that spoke different views on it. A small group of enlightened minds rose independently across the globe, and chartered a new course for political and social reformation. The injustices that were existent had caused people to rise up and speak out against it. Starting from Henry David Thoreau to Martin Luther King Jr., there had been many accounts on civil disobedience. These speakers, such as Martin Luther King Jr, have been inspired and influenced from ideas of others to commit to their own ideas and logics. Gandhi also had a lot to do with this movement along with Thoreau and Martin Luther King Jr. Gandhi’s movement for independence set the forefront of civil disobedience and he courageously complied with arbitrary laws in order to be defiant. Aware of the destruction that lay ahead from the path of violence, Gandhi employed self- abrasive and nonviolent tactics to prove the yoke of empire the indefatigable resolve of his people and their thirst for justice. These leaders of nonviolent protest permanently changed the world viewed organized resistance and effectively spread the ideas of fighting inequality. Speaking and writing down what they had to say, these philosophies on this movement had spread.

            From early 19^th century, Henry David Thoreau had started to rebel against his state. He argued for the people and the rights of individuals against government and unfair treatment. It was a form of injustice to allow someone to take control of another person’s life in a way that the person was not pleased or hurt. He refused to pay his tax to the state because of his view on America’s war with Mexico and on slave territory. Therefore, he was sent to jail for one night. In prison, an inspiration of an essay called ‘Resistance to Civil Government’ had been formed and it consisted of all his different views and logics. In 1866 many of his great lectures were published and the word about civil disobedience had begun to grow with relations to the topics of slavery and the Mexican American War. To Thoreau, civil disobedience as of utmost importance when necessary and to him even if it meant being isolated from society or going into prison. A quote from his essay in 1849 was, “The government is best which governs least which shows his attitude towards the government and also the motive for as to why civil disobedience may be permitted and supported. Part of his drive to encourage civil disobedience was his disapproval of slavery and the Mexican American War. He believed in the right of an individual rather than a government or even a majority. He had a bad judgment towards governments in which he resulted that they cause a lot more harm than they do good and therefore they are unjust, democracy or not. There was also a paradox in his thinking, for there was a view that showed that Thoreau wanted to withdraw from life and all its hard questions. There was also another view that Thoreau’s action was the logical outcome of his beliefs.

            Moving on from the 19^th century to the 20^th century, Mohandas K. Gandhi became a huge symbol of rights for everyone and of nonviolence, even when the opponent was violently attacking. He fought for the rights of Indians under a racist government in South Africa. He influenced the Hindus to always hold nonviolent principles even in the face of violent tactics by those in power. He fought desperately but yet ineffectively failed. It says in his speech ‘On Nonviolent Resistance’ that “there are two ways of countering injustice” (244). One could either be really violent or attack or one could use the method called ‘satyagraha’ which is basically being prepared to die in suffering to create peace. He also stated “Civil disobedience is the inherent right of a citizen to be civil, implies discipline, thought, care, attention and sacrifice.” Similar to Thoreau, Gandhi also agreed with the terms of civil disobedience as he explains that people are born with the right to protest in civil ways that applies care and thought. He brought attention to the fact that the people have a right to be displeased with their rulers when their actions are not satisfactory to them and when so, they have the right to protest against their power. He was known for his nonviolent ways and his ways still bring impact upon modern society and culture as his image thrives among us. He stressed peace so much to die rather than hurt the opposing party at fault. His actions and ideals on peace and the just way of countering injustice in nonviolent ways is admired by many and is truly one of the greatest examples of civil disobedience in history. Gandhi was able to undermine the imperial government to the point of acquiescence.

            Martin Luther King Jr. influenced from ideas of both Thoreau and Gandhi was really dedicated to his cause and fought against injustice and racism. He, like Gandhi, supported his philosophy on nonviolent resistance and always spoke out on his news on the law and the injustice of it. He would say how if one was to break an unfair law, one would need to do it “openly, lovingly” (246) and not haltingly. He would say how there were “two types of law: just and unjust” and it was up to the people to know how to deal with it. Martin Luther King Jr. argued between the difference of a law that was just and unjust. He stated that a just law was one that abided by the morals of the law of God and an unjust law was one that did not. For instance the right to vote for African Americans in the United States which Dr. King argued unfair him. He spoke out on the morals of the laws and the fair treatment of people without discrimination towards their color, background, or ethnicity. Martin Luther King Jr., like Gandhi, promoted paths of nonviolence. On October 14, 1964 he received the Nobel Peace for his achievements fighting racial inequality through nonviolent peaceful methods. It was the idea that those who were treated unfairly had the right to stand up for what they believe in and take action towards that course.

            For eons, oppression and tyranny were met with an equal and opposite force of violence. The only logical reaction to murder was murder itself. However a small group of enlightened minds gathers and rose to create a new course for political and social reformation. In particular, Henry David Thoreau, Mohandas K. Gandhi, and Martin Luther King Jr. all spoke out on the idea of civil disobedience and the logic of all these injustices happening on the world. They were only a few of the many who have stood up to corruption, power, and majority of thought throughout history. Civil disobedience, though, is not of the past and it is an action which is still practiced today. With better examples before us, civil disobedience can be practiced in a better manner today. There were paradoxical views on the breaking of unjust laws and also views on nonviolent tactics about civil disobedience. As long as there is greed, crime, and corruption, civil disobedience will always stand up for the rights of the people.