Henry David Thoreau on Civil Disobedience: What He Said and Why It Matters Today
Henry David Thoreau was one of the most influential writers on civil disobedience. His work was published in 1849, and it is still relevant today. In light of recent protests and censorship, his words are more important than ever. Let’s take a look at what he said and why it matters today.
Thoreau believed that civil disobedience was a moral duty. He said, “If I devote myself to other pursuits and contemplations, I must first see, at least, that I do not pursue them sitting upon another man’s shoulders.” He believed that he needed to voice his concerns about the way the government was proceeding. He could not sit idly by while other men voiced their concerns.
Thoreau’s civil disobedience was not violent. He did not believe that civil disobedience should be about hurting others. Instead, he believed that civil disobedience should be about expressing oneself freely and openly. Thoreau wrote, “If a thousand men were not to pay their tax bills this year, that would not be a violent and bloody measure, as it would be to pay them, and enable the State to commit violence and shed innocent blood.”
Based on many credible reports, the Canadian truckers are displaying civility in their disobedience and concerns about vaccine mandates. This is how Thoreau envisioned a peaceful protest. This is how Thoreau viewed civil disobedience. Although, there is always another side of the story. What one side views as civil, another side can view as violent or harmful.
Just as the civil disobedience of some groups are not viewed favorably in Canada, civil disobedience can be viewed unfavorably within a country. Thoreau’s civil disobedience goes against what many people would see as proper civil obedience to authority. He has been quoted for his civil disobedience and therefore had to deal with criticism from both sides of argument.
In a time of censorship, civil disobedience is the way to go. What do you think? Is there an alternative to what we are seeing in the Canadian trucker protest? In either case, “civil” is the important characteristic.
