Not many people today, nor back then really agreed on many things such as should wars happen, the way the government should be taken care of, and who should run for office. However, Henry David Thoreau, Gandhi, and Nelson Mandela thought otherwise. These three intellectual individuals reflect the spirt of optimism and individualism, however only Gandhi and Nelson Mandela made a true change for their community. Many people might know Henry David Thoreau because of his famous essay titled “Civil Disobedience”. In this essay Thoreau describes how he doesn’t want to be part of a nation that declares that they’re an “equal” government that declares they’re being “equal” when really majority always ruled. This is shown when Thoreau states, “A government in which the majority rule in all cases cannot be based on justice, even as far as men understand it.” This …show more content…
Mandela saw how the government in South Africa would treat its people. Mandela wanting to stand up against all the oppression he saw he started talking about all the wrongs the government was doing; this causing him around 25 years in prison for just speaking out against something that’s considered morally wrong. While Mandela was in prison he kept on reading and studying about politics. After he was out of prison he ran for president and won the election. Nelson Mandela was the first democratic president in South Africa. Not only this, but he changed the way the government was working and the way many viewed the South African government. Not many believe in change, standing up for what they believe in, or even try to speak out against things that they believe are morally wrong. Not many stood up for what they believed in, but Henry David Thoreau, Gandhi, and Nelson Mandela did. Although, Thoreau didn’t make a change like Gandhi and Mandela he still stood up in what he believed in not what others believed
Many of these people stood up for similar or the same groups. “Must the citizen ever for a moment, or in the least degree, resign his conscience to the legislation?" (Saxby). This quote is from Thoreau’s Civil Disobedience. Thoreau believed that the public was being oppressed by their government and that government stifled free-thinking and free will.
Henry David Thoreau’s “Civil Disobedience” is an essay in which Thoreau argues that people need to put their own moral conscience above the law. The essay states that it is a citizen’s responsibility to disobey unjust laws in order to promote chance in society. Thoreau’s essay has become an important part in history because it has sparked ideas and interest in other people who later chose to take action and practice civil disobedience. Martin Luther King Jr. read the essay written by Thoreau and became inspired. King would later go to jail by acting on the idea of civil disobedience.
To bring about reform, Gandhi, Thoreau and Mandela swayed audiences to share their views, to share their beliefs, gain their support, or rally them to take action. Each of this leaders used controlled passive aggressive to convey their message with clarity and force. Henry David Thoreau chose to live apart from the government. He once said, "That government is best which governs least." This means that a government that has little power over its people is the best type of government.
Galearie Edison Mr. Bryant English III 17 December 2014 Mohandas Gandhi, Henry Thoreau, Civil Disobedience. OH MY! Gandhi is known as Mahatma which means ‘the holy one’. His journey of civil disobedience and non-violence began after he came back to his homeland of India from South Africa in July of the year 1914, when he supported the Home Rule Movement.
Civil Disobedience What is civil disobedience? What does it do? Why is it important? Is it a right thing? These few questions might pop into one 's head when they hear civil disobedience.
Gandhi and Thoreau had many similarities and differences about civil disobedience. Gandhi and Thoreau had many similarities about disobedience which meant they didn’t have completely different ideas. Both men believed that one should stand for what they believed in no matter the circumstances. As seen on page 396 in lines from 159-166 which explains how going to jail did not affect Thoreau because he
"Common Disobedience" by Henry David Thoreau was a methods for instructing individuals on why they ought not make due with a not as much as immaculate government. On the off chance that individuals against their group or government, a few people may make a development, or few creating nations individuals may bring about insurgency or war, however Thoreau's equity is "noncompliance. " they may endure in the event that they do meddle with the present government.
In the second paragraph, Thoreau asks, "This American government- what is it but a tradition, though a recent one, endeavoring to transmit itself unimpaired to posterity, but each instant losing some of its integrity?" This passage identifies the disparity between the purpose of the "American government" and its endeavor not to become "impaired" throughout history. Thoreau later addresses the issue of majority rule by raising a series of rhetorical questions with the objective of underlining the contrast between the professed motives of the government and its practices. Thoreau identifies that the conscience, which ought to guide the "majorities" does not articulate itself in legislation. Thus, majority rule does not succeed in guaranteeing justice because of the mediation of the legislative apparatus.
If I believe I cannot do something, it makes me incapable of doing it. But when I believe I can, then I acquire the ability to do it even If I didn't have it in the beginning. " In using resistance through mass non-violent civil disobedience, Gandhi became one of the major political and spiritual leaders of his time. Though he is not with us today, his great sayings and doings will go on inspiring many
Civil Disobedience Henry David Thoreau was an abolitionist who was a strong believer that the government was unjust. As a result, he did not pay some of his taxes, and was thrown in jail. Upon leaving prison, he wrote “Civil Disobedience,” as a means to educate readers on the corruption of the government. He believed that people should practice their right of refusal by using civil disobedience towards the government. Thoreau’s warrants are based on the fact that Americans have a right to revolt against a government in which they feel is unfit to govern.
The African Nelson Mandela and the American Martin Luther King are important and influential heroes who made the world better somehow, in terms to fight for black people rights in their country. According to (www.dictionary.com), a hero is defined as “ the man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities”. Certainly, both heroes had the courage to sacrifice for black people with extreme power to resist the racism in the past using various ways. It is clear that the two heroes met their ambitions, but Mandela made bigger change worldwide and he was inspirational leader with severe willingness to fight for justice. Nelson Mandela and Martin King lived many similar situations which led to their great effort.
NELSON MANDELA Nelson Mandela is one of the influence people in the 20th century politics. He was the first black president of South Africa from 1994 to 1999 and elected by fully representative democratic election. He was also a politician, an activist, fighting against HIV/AIDS in Africa, promoting global peace and South African anti apartheid revolutionary. One thing that he did for the Africans and affects the world was about to end the apartheid, a system that try to separated the races of black skin over white skin people in South Africa. Because of him right now there is no differentiate between those people again.
It takes a lot out of one person to gain power. Throughout history nonviolence has been proven to overcome violence including; Egypt, India and the USA. Many people think that violence will solve all problems. In fact the best way for the oppressed to gain power is by nonviolence. Many people say that violence is never the answer.
One of the greatest leaders that greatly impacted society and still influences culture today is Mahatma Gandhi. Mahatma Gandhi was an advocate for peaceful resistance, he believed in standing up against injustices with peace. On the contrary, there is another great author who impacted society with his literature, and his name is Henry David Thoreau. Henry Thoreau believed in a much different manner of resisting in society. He believed in nonconforming and breaking the law.
Nelson Mandela has fought for equal rights between the races (white and coloured), and over the years he has become a role model for millions of people in the world. Nelson Mandela has fought against the apartheid government in South Africa. The apartheid government was created for the white people to keep the racial groups separate. These “racial groups” are white and coloured people being separate. And this government was created so the white people would have more advantages than the coloured people.