Henry David Thoreau's Quiz Show

Life is filled with a mountain of complicated decisions that can shape people’s lives for either the better or the worse. Children are told the importance of standing out from their peers and to be themselves, yet children tend to assimilate to their peer’s ideas, customs, and behaviors. Some may argue that assimilation is outgrown as those children reach adulthood, but sadly, that is not the case. The 1994 classic film “Quiz Show,” follows the journey of different players deciding to be unlawful and “follow the money,” or to stick by their core virtues. Peer pressure and the desire for power can sway any person’s judgement, but it is up to them to decide if they should keep up the lie, or ultimately tell the truth. Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote

In his classic essay, “Civil Disobedience,” Henry David Thoreau, spoke about the lack of facts behind voting within the government. Thoreau said, “All voting is a sort of gaming, like checkers or backgammon, with a slight moral tinge to it” (Thoreau p. 22). As a middle-class citizen, Stempel was laughed at by the court for expressing the truth. First-class citizen, Charles Van Doren, however, was revered and praised for finally telling the truth. This verifies Thoreau’s beliefs regarding voting and court situations. Those who religiously watched “Twenty-One,” criticized Stempel for his truthful claims. Dan Enwright said “He blames Charles Van Doren for his downfall. And of course, the real downfall of Herbert Stempel has always been Herbert Stempel.” People targeted Stempel because he had not been born into a wealthy family and a luxurious lifestyle, and therefore, they assumed that he was only speaking up for the fame and money. Thoreau commented that “A man has not everything to do, but something; and because he cannot do everything, it is not necessary that he should do something wrong,” (Thoreau p.25) referencing that men do not have the powers of the Divine, otherwise, they have the power to lie and dominate