Henry David Thoreau

Vince Tang

English 48A

Journal for H. D. Thoreau

October 27, 2011

Reading Quote:

“…and he has voluntarily chosen to be an agent of the government. How shall he ever know well what he is and does as an officer of the government, or as a man, until he is obliged to consider whether he shall treat me… as a neighbor and well-disposed man, or as a maniac and disturber of the peace…” (1864).

 Research Quote:

“No essay in Thoreau’s canon more powerfully exemplifies his independence than ‘Resistance to Civil Government’…” (1856).

Summary of Reading Quote:

Thoreau is essentially saying that a government employee, blind of his lawful duty and humanity, will remain so until he crosses a decision between governmental laws and moral righteousness.

Response:

What should we make of the peace officers on the streets of our current “Occupy” protesting sites? Surely they must understand that they are part of “the 99 percent”. Their decision to defend the government laws written by man suggests that they are merely “…marching in admirable order… against their common sense and consciences…” (1858). Shadowed by their lawful duty, the government officials loses sight of their conscience and takes action with guns, and gas, and mace, and tasers, and batons. The turmoil of our social and economic position is clearly in need of restructuring and the peace officers can support the protesting demonstrations by laying down their arms or as Thoreau puts it, “…resign your office” (1865). It is morally right to promote social and economic equality. When the officers resign, they learn to “…be men first, and subjects afterward” (1858). If they do not resign, then the peace officers become the opposing force to the peaceful protesters.

However, do we not seek their assistance when someone robs us of our personal property or threatens our lives? Do we not conform to government laws in our everyday lives; the laws our taxes pay for them to defend? We apparently need government officials such as police officers to maintain the system. It would be anarchy without a government. As we have seen with violent protestors, not everyone reacts to situations peacefully. Perhaps the officers at the “Occupy” protesting sites deserve both sympathy and appreciation. Sympathy because they are sacrificing their moral righteousness to sustain our society and appreciation because they allow others to freely demonstrate social and economic inequality.

The way it works; the way society and government function as a whole I cannot say, but the way it is I fully accept and appreciate. I believe Thoreau would share my position because he says, “I do not wish to quarrel with any man or nation… the government does not concern me much, and I shall bestow the fewest possible thoughts on it” (1870).