At one point or another in anyone’s childhood, they have been reprimanded for some violent action and lectured on how violence is never the answer. Despite all the violence and aggression present in today’s society, this ideology still rings true. It has been proven time and time again that a nonviolent act can gain just as much attention and success as an act of violence. One well known instance of this was Henry David Thoreau 's stance against the Mexican-American War which inspired his essay “Civil Disobedience.” His nonviolence set a precedent that has stayed relevant and applicable for over a century. Whether intentional or not, his message is still apparent in pro LGBT protests against the notorious Westboro Baptist Church. Both the Equality
…show more content…
In the midst of the 19th century, the United States entered in a controversial war with Mexico which was opposed by a large portion of the country. Thoreau, believing one should always fight for their beliefs no matter the odds, refused to pay taxes in support of the war. As a result he was jailed for one night, until a friend paid the money he would not. It was at this point that he published “Civil Disobedience.” In the essay, Thoreau relayed his issues with the American government and its decision to go to war with Mexico. He said that something had to be done about the government’s unjust actions, writing“…when a sixth of the population of a nation which has undertaken to be the refuge of liberty are slaves, and a whole country is unjustly overrun and conquered by a foreign army, and subjected to military law, I think that it is not too soon for honest men to rebel and revolutionize” (Thoreau 4). He saw no reason for war or any violence against the Mexicans, as they did nothing wrong in his eyes. He pointed out how the American government magnified any problem there had been into a much larger conflict when he said, “I quarrel not with far-off foes, but with those who, near at home, cooperate with, and do the bidding of those far away, and without whom the latter would be harmless” (Thoreau 5). In his eyes, there was no other option …show more content…
Henry David Thoreau outlined what he believed was the correct way to peacefully protest in his essay, “Civil Disobedience.” The actions of the Westboro Baptist Church, although nonviolent, do not fit Thoreau’s outline of civil disobedience. Aaron Jackson’s Equality House, and the events it inspired, go above and beyond Thoreau’s outline, as they manage to protest without any type of disobedience. The “God Loves Gays” billboard also fought the views and actions of the Westboro Baptist Church in a completely obedient way, which Thoreau would approve of. The church was targeted for reasons both specific to itself and because it was a symbol of the worldwide issue of homophobia, all concentrated in one place. This is similar to Thoreau 's situation in the sense that he did not single-handedly end the Mexican-American War, but he did bring a large amount of attention to an injustice he believed was being done. None of these protests were held to specifically fight the Westboro Baptist Church, but instead to draw the attention needed to incite change. Thoreau 's work has transcended time, teaching people that power is not always in violence or numbers, and nothing should stand in the way of fighting for something one believes is
In the midst of the 19th century, the United States entered in a controversial war with Mexico which was opposed by a large portion of the country. Thoreau, believing one should always fight for their beliefs no matter the odds, refused to pay taxes in support of the war. As a result he was jailed for one night, until a friend paid the money he would not. It was at this point that he published “Civil Disobedience.” In the essay, Thoreau relayed his issues with the American government and its decision to go to war with Mexico. He said that something had to be done about the government’s unjust actions, writing“…when a sixth of the population of a nation which has undertaken to be the refuge of liberty are slaves, and a whole country is unjustly overrun and conquered by a foreign army, and subjected to military law, I think that it is not too soon for honest men to rebel and revolutionize” (Thoreau 4). He saw no reason for war or any violence against the Mexicans, as they did nothing wrong in his eyes. He pointed out how the American government magnified any problem there had been into a much larger conflict when he said, “I quarrel not with far-off foes, but with those who, near at home, cooperate with, and do the bidding of those far away, and without whom the latter would be harmless” (Thoreau 5). In his eyes, there was no other option …show more content…
Henry David Thoreau outlined what he believed was the correct way to peacefully protest in his essay, “Civil Disobedience.” The actions of the Westboro Baptist Church, although nonviolent, do not fit Thoreau’s outline of civil disobedience. Aaron Jackson’s Equality House, and the events it inspired, go above and beyond Thoreau’s outline, as they manage to protest without any type of disobedience. The “God Loves Gays” billboard also fought the views and actions of the Westboro Baptist Church in a completely obedient way, which Thoreau would approve of. The church was targeted for reasons both specific to itself and because it was a symbol of the worldwide issue of homophobia, all concentrated in one place. This is similar to Thoreau 's situation in the sense that he did not single-handedly end the Mexican-American War, but he did bring a large amount of attention to an injustice he believed was being done. None of these protests were held to specifically fight the Westboro Baptist Church, but instead to draw the attention needed to incite change. Thoreau 's work has transcended time, teaching people that power is not always in violence or numbers, and nothing should stand in the way of fighting for something one believes is