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Henry David Thoreau's Concept Of Civil Disobedience

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Resistance is Not Futile

I occasionally protest my father’s requests to go to bed or clean my room, to which he responds “Resistance is futile” in a theatrical manner. This catchphrase from Star Trek is appropriate in the parlance of parenting, but should never be uttered by government. Resistance in a free society is not futile, and is a strong indicator of a free people. Peaceful resistance to laws, or Henry David Thoreau's civil disobedience, benefits a free society and has had a meaningful impact on the lives of millions.

Thoreau's idea of civil disobedience is a pillar of freedom founded upon the principles of conscientiousness, communication, publicity, and nonviolence. Collectively, they help constituents raise and maintain a …show more content…
Racial equality in the United States was hard fought and hard won. Peaceful resistance was a key strategy of Dr. King and the American Civil Rights Movement. Though technically free, black Americans were not free from institutionalized oppression. When the law itself is against a group of socially and economically disadvantaged citizens, civil disobedience provides a peaceful avenue for change. Imagine what the state of America would be today if civil rights advocates had been morally opposed to civil disobedience. Imagine the state of inequality that could have persisted into the twenty first century. The very thought of an alternate version of American history without civil disobedience is terrifying. The same holds true for other acts of peaceful resistance to laws that instigated positive change. Ghandi’s Salt March in 1930, Capetown Peace March in 1989, and resistance to the Berlin Wall in Germany are examples of impactful civil disobedience. This peaceful form of protest has and continues to touch every corner of the world. Peaceful resistance has helped people overthrow oppressive regimes, obliterate unjust laws, and usher in a free

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