The Idea Of Civil Disobedience: Moral Integrity
“A hero is someone who gives his or her life to something bigger than oneself.” (Joseph Campbell). The act of civil disobedience the refusal to comply with laws, to pay taxes, and fines with a peaceful form of political protest. Showing others how to go against things they don’t believe in a nonviolent way. There is a way to protest, without violence you can solve many cases with just your voice and movements. Henry David Thoreau may be the start of the idea civil disobedience years later Mahatma Gandhi following suits with civil disobedience with his ideas.
Which heavily introduced Martin Luther King Jr. Thoreau, Gandhi, and King share many qualities being heros- qualities: moral integrity, deep concern, for other people, a vision of an ideal community within, and commitment to putting ideas into practice. Thoreau action of civil disobedience being a hero says “ The government rarely proves itself useful and that derives its power from the majority because they are the strongest group. Most writings about slavery and how the government innovative. Thoreau is considered as a hero with partake with civil disobedience is because he was ahead of his generation.
Therefore he helped others writing an essay “On the Duty of Civil Disobedience providing ways to really looking at the government for who they are and a way to look at life. Thoreau thought the government was making many mistakes so he stop paying his taxes to the government. He didn’t want to support them anymore. He was then put in jail. Thoreau stood for exactly what he believed in no matter what is the “consequence”. Then sharing his story to others. Gandhi action in civil disobedience being a hero says, Nonviolence is not a garment to be put on and off at will. Its seat is in the heart, and it must bean inseparable part of our being” . Gandhi is considered as an hero for one of the reasons of his leadership roles. He convinced people in his village to wear homespun clothing. Which was made from people in the village, making jobs for the poor to get paid by making homespun clothing. He took his partake in civil disobedience by bringing India to independence with nonviolent resistance. Monhatma thought that it was injustice being served to Indians especially to the immigrants by the South Africans. Actually being a great help to his village and to others outside of the village. Many people will look to Gandhi as an hero because he did what was best for others if he felt it wasn’t right with no violence.
“Nonviolence is a powerful and just weapon, which cuts without wounding and ennobles the man who wields it. It is a sword that heals.” (Martin Luther King Jr.). King is saying that being nonviolent could be as powerful as violence. It digs deep without wounds and blood. Martin Luther King is known as many titles; hero and man of civil disobedience etc. King was an determined, brave, and inspirational figure which is why many look to him as a hero. Standing up for his beliefs that African Americans weren’t getting treated right. Starting movements and marches. Although when he was faced up against violence. He did not cave in go with violence back or he didn’t give up. I'm pretty sure this is where fighting fire with fire came from. All while giving others like him to join him, letting them know someday it will be an equal life. With his partake in civil disobedience he used his voice to speak out unto the government, boycotted, and marched.
Thoreau, Gandhi, and King has all been looked up as heroes following their beliefs with civil disobedience. Actually with the use of moral integrity and the deep concerns for other people. Looking as Moral Integrity as the right conduct, honesty, and righteousness . Thoreau was able to share his story to others so he can fulfill his concerns of the people who weren’t getting treated as they should. Thoreau knew that the government weren’t in their right mind. Gandhi doing what was best for others knowing the Indians weren’t getting treated right. To be an bystander is not truly honest or righteousness. King caring for himself and the others like him knew something had to change by staying honest and doing what was right.
The vision of an ideal community and commitment to putting ideas into practice is great ways to become heroes. Which is how the three very known heroes went about their beliefs. They all had their own situations, beliefs, and ideas. Thoreau vision of and ideal community was for the government to actually do their job and not taking advantage of their people. Gandhi vision was for the Indians and the immigrants to be treated the same as the others and for the poverty rate to go down. King ideal community was for the blacks to be equal as whites. Putting these ideas to practice is which how Thoreau got through in jail with the backed up taxes. Gandhi put his commitment into action and he also was assassinated. Dr. King put his commitment of ideas into practice which led him to get beat on,thrown in jail multiple times, and assassinated.
Thoreau, Gandhi, and King share many qualities being heros- qualities: moral integrity, deep concern, for other people, a vision of an ideal community within, and commitment to putting ideas into practice. Henry David Thoreau, Monhadas Mahatma Gandhi, and Martin Luther King Jr. were all great heroes who shared many characteristics. All were brave and determined.
