Civil Disobedience

1)       What does Thoreau mean by a moral sense? How is it developed?

     Thoreau stated that people have a moral sense, the basic knowledge to distinguish right from wrong, just from the unjust as capable individual free thinkers.  To implement this process it has to be continually practiced for effectiveness, not to do so leads to the diminishment of personal thought and the following of others (government) without thought.

 2)       What is the cause of the conflict between the abolition and women's movement?

     The cause of conflict originated where they struggled against each other to classify who faced more unjust treatment.
 

3)       How would you judge the importance of civil disobedience today?

     Civil disobedience is a very important factor in today’s society as it was in previous civil cases in the past (e.i. Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks).  To bring notice to unjust treatment through non-violent means is an appropriate action as to not give cause to the government to shed a negative light on a situation or give them cause to retaliate unfairly.  A recent example of a non-violent demonstration can be seen with Trevon Martin, a black youth killed in Florida, and follow citizens protested for the arrest of his killer. 

Interpretations

Henry David Thoreau

“…see a file of soldiers, colonel, captain, corporal, privates, powder-monkeys, and all, marching in admirable order…against their will, ay, against their common sense and consciences…Now what are they? Men at all? Or small movable forts and magazines, at the service of some unscrupulous man in power?  Visit the Navy-Yard and behold a marine, such a man  as an American government can make, or such as it can make a man with its black arts – a mere shadow and reminiscence of humanity, a man laid out alive and standing, and already, as one may say, buried, under arms with funeral accomplishments, though it may be…” (Thoreau, pg. 223)

I chose this statement since its sentiment is still conveyed today where the men and women of the military are considered nameless tools utilized to carryout directives of the government without any thought of their own.  The psychological conditioning required to have a soldier obey without question leaves the individual with a moral scar since the directive carried out might go against their personal natural moral inclination, so leaving this person a shell of their former self.

Frederick Douglass

“I do not ask the esteem and friendship of any minister or any man, no matter how high his standing, nor do I wish to shake any man’s hand who stands indifferent to the wrongs of any brethren.  Some have boasted that when Fred. Douglass has been at their houses, he has been treated kindly, but as soon as he got into their pulpits he began to abuse them-that as soon as the advantage is given to him, he takes it to stab those who befriend him.-Friends, I wish to stab no man, but if you stand on the side of the slaveholder, and cry out “the Union as it is,” “the Constitution as it is,” “the Church as it is,” you may expect that the heart that throbs beneath this bosom, will give utterance against you.  I am bound to speak, and whenever there is an opportunity to do so, I will speak against slavery.” (Douglass, pg. 238)

I like this quote since Frederick Douglass is stating even in the face of opposition he will always (and frequently) speak about what he believes in.  No amount of friend sentiments or classification of power will change what he believes in: the abolition of slavery, and so if a being is hurt behind his comments/believes, it is not his intention to inflict pain, but is his intention to bring to light the injustice of the many for just response.