Nathaniel Heatwole Research Paper

A Guilford College student named Nathaniel Heatwole runs the chance of serving jail time for placing objects such as box cutters, bleach, fake bombs, as well as various other items, aboard an airplane in September of 2003. Heatwole claims that he was demonstrating civil disobedience by placing the items aboard the plane, however, the Department of Homeland Security and the Transportation Security Agency do not see it in such a way. Heatwole faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison if convicted. Through research, it can be concluded that Nathaniel Heatwole was not only clearly portraying civil disobedience in this case, he was also testing the security of the Transportation Security Administration (which is crucial to the survival of a nation). Heatwole took it upon himself to stand up against the government and show them what is wrong and how they can fix it by taking drastic measures into his own hands. Civil disobedience has played a major role throughout our society, displaying itself through Martin Luther King Jr., the Boston Tea Party, …show more content…
For example, Thoreau refused to pay taxes for six years because he refused to adhere to what he thought was morally wrong. Even though he was well aware of the legal consequences he could (and did) face, he still went through with his plan. Like Thoreau, Nathaniel Heatwole did what he thought was morally right by placing those items aboard the plane. Both figures show clear displays of civil disobedience by standing up for what they believe in and not conforming to how the government rules things. Thoreau states, “That government is best which governs least” (Thoreau 226). This statement could be held true to both Heatwole and Thoreau. Many come to the conclusion that Nathaniel Heatwole and Henry David Thoreau are very much alike because of their views on how life should be