Civil Disobedience
Opening question:
Thoreau writes, “A minority is powerless while it conforms to the majority; it is not even a minority then; but it is irresistible when it clogs by its whole weight” (Thoreau 386). This line has the most meaning to be me because one person cannot change the world alone, they would need help. What one person can do though is turn a minority into a majority. I could also take this to mean that while being surrounded by all those who have fallen victim of the government and its “mind control” we could have very little to no say in the goings on of the government, the majority being everyone in favor of what the government has decided to do next and the minority obviously the select few who have enough will power and opinion and determination to oppose it.
Thinking Questions:
1. I do agree with Thoreau because a largely invasive and ignorant government is neither something that no one really wants nor needs. A government that listens to its people and encourages individuality and chooses to help and include the ideas of the people is a government that will be better, a government for the people. Thoreau believes that the nation’s government is gradually becoming less and less reliable. But the way we see fit to rule ourselves is with a government, a democracy. Without this higher rule we would all be individuals living our lives according our own morals and philosophies and standards. Though the government now is notoriously intrusive and wholly undependable, (mostly because right now it’s closed for the season) we still see it as a tradition in our country and the best possible way to govern us.
5. Like I previously stated in the opening question, an individual has next to no power to change the society. Said individual would need to rally together an effort to help change whatever is in the need of modification. A minority needs to become a majority in order to change something; this could be done either negatively or positively. I think
Thoreau writes, “A minority is powerless while it conforms to the majority; it is not even a minority then; but it is irresistible when it clogs by its whole weight” (Thoreau 386). This line has the most meaning to be me because one person cannot change the world alone, they would need help. What one person can do though is turn a minority into a majority. I could also take this to mean that while being surrounded by all those who have fallen victim of the government and its “mind control” we could have very little to no say in the goings on of the government, the majority being everyone in favor of what the government has decided to do next and the minority obviously the select few who have enough will power and opinion and determination to oppose it.
Thinking Questions:
1. I do agree with Thoreau because a largely invasive and ignorant government is neither something that no one really wants nor needs. A government that listens to its people and encourages individuality and chooses to help and include the ideas of the people is a government that will be better, a government for the people. Thoreau believes that the nation’s government is gradually becoming less and less reliable. But the way we see fit to rule ourselves is with a government, a democracy. Without this higher rule we would all be individuals living our lives according our own morals and philosophies and standards. Though the government now is notoriously intrusive and wholly undependable, (mostly because right now it’s closed for the season) we still see it as a tradition in our country and the best possible way to govern us.
5. Like I previously stated in the opening question, an individual has next to no power to change the society. Said individual would need to rally together an effort to help change whatever is in the need of modification. A minority needs to become a majority in order to change something; this could be done either negatively or positively. I think