Civil Disobedience
Re-invigorating Thoreau’s masterpiece in a new age.
“Citizens with a conscience are not going to ignore wrong-doing simply because they'll be destroyed for it: the conscience forbids it.”
This was Edward Snowden’s apt response to a Twitter question regarding the recent treatment of whistle-blowers. One can't help but to draw comparisons to heroes found within the most classic stories of dystopia, those that provided chilling premonitions of the present state of surveillance and oppression.
Reading through Thoreau's Civil Disobedience, however, doesn't serve just as a premonition of things to come, but also provides the reader with a plan of action; a proposition for putting one's conscience above the law.
“If it is of such a nature that it requires you to be the agent of injustice to another, then, I say, break the law. Let your life be a counter friction to stop the machine.”
During the infamous Government “shutdown” in the first half of October 2013, Federal employees were being ordered to oppress citizens which were simply expressing their freedom to visit public memorials; decorated veterans were being arrested for peaceful demonstrations and risking imprisonment for the expression of their ideals. Why do so many of our federal workers not have the willpower to risk reprimand from their superiors by putting their conscience above orders? What then, is the greater crime?
“Unjust laws exist; shall we be content to obey them, or shall we endeavor to amend them, and obey them until we have succeeded, or shall we transgress them at once?”
Connecting the literature of Civil Disobedience brings to mind the example made famous of a tearful Filipino police offer standing guard against a protest during the president's State of the Nation Address. One could argue that if the officer wished to show his true disgust with the situation, he could have removed himself, but by showing his reluctance and humanity, a wonderful thing happened: The crowd not only acknowledged his vulnerability, but began to console him. If simply acknowledging the existence of conscience and humanity within an enforcement official had such a profound effect upon the world, one can only imagine the changes that could be made from an individual's refusal to oppress.
When speaking to public officials about the effect they could have upon the nation, Thoreau wrote, “If you really wish to do anything, resign your office. When the subject has refused allegiance, and the officer has resigned his office, then the revolution is accomplished.” Is there any threat to our Nation if our populace wishes to visit landmarks of this country, whether it be natural or man-made? If an enforcement officer is sworn to protect and serve, and will accomplish neither of these objectives by following orders, is it not their duty to object, either by a refusal to obey, or by tendering their resignation? Thoreau, a widely renowned Transcendentalist, believed that we are not inherently evil people. It is his words upon this subject, in one of the final paragraphs of his essay, that Thoreau speaks for the average American, as a timeless representation of our true nature:
“I do not wish to quarrel with any man or nation. I do not wish to split hairs, to make fine distinctions, or set myself up as better than my neighbors.”
When Thoreau published the originally titled “Resistance to Civil Government” in 1849, he was motivated in part due to the continued acceptance of slavery. He was an active abolitionist and believed slavery could be abolished in part due to simple actions from common men. Sixteen years later, slavery was officially abolished. It’s obvious, however, that Thoreau's ideas still ring true to this day. It is easy to believe that the fight against unwarranted surveillance is futile and will require eventual public submission, but according to the teachings of Thoreau, several brave whistleblowers(Snowden, Manning, Assange) have shown us that we have already won.
“...if one honest man...ceasing to hold slaves, were actually to withdraw from this copartnership, and be locked up in the county jail therefor, it would be the abolition of slavery in America. For it matters not how small the beginning may seem to be: what is once well done is done forever.”
Image credit: Brendan Scherer
https://www.flickr.com/photos/bscherer/
