Civil Disobedience Rhetorical Analysis

Vadi Dodge
Dr. Bush
ENG 323
February 10, 2013

“Civil Disobedience” Thoreau has had a large impact on American culture and society since he was alive, his writings and beliefs are very indicative of the way many people feel about the government today. He was very cynical towards the government and the belief that the government should not have more power than necessary. Thoreau believed that people should be able to make their own decisions and take ahold of their beliefs in order to live their lives unrestricted. This has come to be the thought of many Americans today, many believe that the government should have limited power and not be allowed to make decisions for its citizens. One of Thoreau’s main issues is the Mexican-American War, is he
Army where that is the job of the solider, to do what they are told which is how wars are won. I feel like Thoreau contradicts himself when saying that people must do what justice requires, regardless of cost. What justice requires for a nation is often times war, which Thoreau is vehemently against. Despite Thoreau’s opinion of the government he knows that it is necessary for their to be a government, because he goes on to say that the government should be obeyed in order to preserve the services we enjoy. It seems that Thoreau is like many Americans today who have their candid opinion but have no real suggestions that provide a viable option to what they are opposing. Thoreau was thrown in jail for not paying taxes, yet he wants to enjoy the services that the government has to offer. I feel like this is something that is dealt with today in terms of the wars that are fought. There are many people who were against the war in Iraq, yet these same people are the ones who expect the government to protect them at all costs. These people would never join the military but are the first ones to criticize the way military operations are being