In the two essays “Self Reliance” and “Civil Disobedience‚ written Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau respectively‚ the two 19th century transcendentalists speak about what it means to be an individual and how society can be changed for the better. While both authors stress the need for nonconformity and individuality‚ the essays differ on the details. In “Self Reliance”‚ Emerson goes on to talk about the American sense of individuality. He makes the claim that the traditions of old are
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“everyone must be free to act according to his own conscience in what pivotal societal means he deems necessary.” Or in other words‚ any man can speak for himself‚ but by societal norms‚ no man can. “That government is best that governs least”(Civil Disobedience‚CD) What Thoreau is stating‚ is that society can be so much better than it is‚ if the government is taken out of it. The ideal concept of the discussion is that a government that gives you free range makes you think more likely to do the right
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Civil Disobedience My favorite quote from the first couple of paragraphs was‚“ I think we should be men first‚ and subjects after.” I believe Thoreau’s thinking behind this quote was men were treated as government’s projects‚ instead of being themselves. From this quote the reader is able to see how men had no freedom and were treated like slaves of the government. They were forced to do things the government wanted them to do‚ instead of doing things they liked to do. Thoreau also shows that
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after battle. In my country‚ there are also many heroes. For me‚ one of the greatest heroes is Martin Luther King Jr.; he was a great preacher and prominent leader in the African-American Civil Rights Movement. He is best known for his role in the advancement of civil rights using nonviolent civil disobedience. Even though he is greatly known for being nonviolent‚ he was assassinated. This great person died like that. The whole-love heart inside him also was gone with his death. Heroes aren’t
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only protesting in the tell-tale‚ nonviolent manner Martin Luther King Jr. would later culture. Gandhi was one of the first anti-war activists publicized worldwide. His works heartened other civil rights leaders such as Nelson Mandela‚ James Lawson‚ and James Bevel to apply nonviolent civil disobedience in their endeavors of human rights (“Mahatma Gandhi” 1). His subsequent assassination‚ however‚ introduced polluted drops
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groups of communities based on race‚ sex‚ age‚ and status (whether economically or politically) that leads to forms of rebellion to fight against the hierarchy in order to close a gap in society as a result. Mohandas Gandhi explained in his “On Civil Disobedience essay‚ “No country has ever become‚ or will ever become‚ happy through victory in war...it only falls further...either our act or our purpose was ill-conceived‚ it brings disaster to both belligerents.” (Gandhi‚ 1916) Instead of using war‚ he
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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
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Civil Disobedience How can a country be happy with a law that mock and ridicule its society? What gives our leaders joy in undermining the spirits of others and divide us as a population? I ask these questions in regard to a new law that gives free things to those who do well on standardized tests. How come those exposed to this law not completely disagree? When something as absurd as this is proposed‚ they must rise against what they see as unjust. Additionally‚ this new law does not represent the
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including other civil leaders as well. Although India was one of the most prosperous English
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Gandhi was an activist who had a different approach to civil disobedience and the search for change. He practiced and taught the theory of nonviolence in his era. The fundamental idea behind his teachings was a concept known as Satyagraha‚ which means to hold on to the truth. Satyagraha to Gandhi was a powerful force that was above anything. Furthermore‚ he argues that because humans do not fully posses the truth‚ they are not in a position to practice violence acts against one another. However‚
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