Civil Disobedience and The Government - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 3 Words: 1028 Downloads: 7 Date added: 2019/05/05 Category Society Essay Level High school Tags: Civil Disobedience Essay Did you like this example? In Civil disobedience, written by Henry David Thoreau, he argues that if citizens feel laws are unjust then they must rebel against them and disobey the rule of the law. Henry uses himself as an example on why one should disobey a law. He does this by refusing to pay taxes in protest of slavery and the Mexican war. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Civil Disobedience and The Government" essay for you Create order For years the government paid no attention to Thoreaus failure to pay taxes, until July 1846. Being asked to pay his debt, he refused and was thrown into jail. Because of his brave actions, Thoreau became a prominent model for civil disobedience. Nevertheless, I agree with Henrys argument that citizens should disobey the laws if they are unjust because ones voice should be heard, especially if the disobedience is done in a peaceful manner. In order for there to be change one must take action such as disobeying the law. One can not sit back and expect a change to happen but one must put some type of action behind his/her fight. In my opinion civil disobedience is a nonviolent show of protest and should be used as a tactic to have ones voice be heard. For generations citizens have felt that the government is corrupt and should be changed for the better. People like Henry Thoreau felt strongly that the government and their rules are highly corrupted and unjust. Thoreau expresses this th rough his opening statement, That government is best which governs least (Thoreau 1). The government is at its best when it does not govern every aspect. The government should not intervene in the lives of its citizens anymore than is absolutely necessary. If the government intervenes in every situation then it has the possibility to create chaos. A government that intercedes more than necessary, can also cause the creation of new, unwanted laws, which people will not agree with, thus pushing a citizen for their voice to be heard using civil disobedience as a tactic, just as Henry Thoreau did.In addition, when laws are created it is sometimes made for a special interest group, and not for a country as a whole. If a law was made to be just, then it must be in favor for not only one set of people but for everyone. A law should not be made in favoritism, but should be made in the convenience for all people. The governing body state should treat an individual in the same manner as others in similar conditions and circumstances. After all, the country is not made up of one group, but is made up of an infinite amount of people whose voice deserves to be heard. Lastly, a persons first and most important obligation is to do what he/she believes is right. A person should not feel pressured to follow a law that is dictated by majority. There should be equal protection for not one set of citizens but for all citizens. If a law is not beneficial to everyone, then what is the purpose of the law? Laws are put into place to guarantee the same rights, privileges and protection to all citizens. In Thoreaus time there were laws specifically made to discriminate a set of people, which were black slaves. Because Thoreau was an abolitionist and refused to follow majority on what they believed was right, he decided to have his voice be heard through a speech he gave in Massachusetts at an anti slavery rally. Henry Thoreau states, Let every man make known what kind of government would command his respect, and that will be one step toward obtaining it (Thoreau 1). Thor eau spoke up and suggested if one would like the government to be shaped into a government of his/her liking then one must voice their opinion and make known what they would like to change about the laws. Opponents of this proposition may suggest that citizens should not disobey an unjust law in order to avoid punishment he/she would not like to suffer. Because the individual has made a choice not to adhere to a law, it will be inevitable to suffer the consequences of the choice. Having ones voice be heard, comes with a price and most of the time it may not always be easy. For example, because Henry Thoreau protested and voiced his opinion against the unjust laws, he was thrown into jail overnight. Opponents may say this could have all been avoided if Thoreau were to just comply to the law and end his uneffective protest. Opponents of my claim may also believe civil disobedience and voicing ones opinion has little to no effect against the majority. How could one voice have the power to go against a majority? Civil disobedience cannot be made to work in defense of injustice, it is simply too weak of a tool to be used against unjust laws. These claims can be disputed, because when an individual voices their opinion, eventually, it will brings about awareness to the majority and has the power to influence others into understanding and joining the civil disobedience. Do you believe that citizens should disobey the laws if they are unjust because ones voice should be heard, especially if the disobedience is done in a peaceful manner? Reflecting on Thoreaus argument, I still agree with it. In order for there to be change one must voice his/her opinion in a civil manner. Yes, there will be laws made in favoritism of one group, or there will be laws that directly discriminates against one group. However, it is up to the individual and their beliefs on what is right to take action and speak up about it, just as Thoreau did. Thoreau realized that the only way to disobey an unjust law is to voice his opinion, protest and use civil disobedience as a tactic to combat the government. Opponents of my claim may disagree and feel as if voicing an opinion/civil disobedience has no effect. Opposers may also believe civil disobeying a law just brings about unnecessary drama and unwanted punishment. However, my argument of an individual disobeying a law if they feel it is unjust still remains.

Archaeology of South Abydos - 1195 Words

Archaeology of South Abydos The late Middle Kingdom settled in a city within Egypt called Microcosm which Microcosms located just south of Abydos. In Microcosm architectural and social engineering took place over 3,850 years ago in southern Egypt. There are scared burial sites throughout Egypt within southern Abydos. Abydos was the first burial place of Egypt’s first pharaohs and religious center for the god Osiris. Osiris was referred to as the God of the dead and the ruler of the underworld. Osiris saw construction for a royal mortuary with a complex name, Enduring-Are-the-Places-of- Khakure-True-of-Voice-in-Abydos. The construction for the royal mortuary was dedicated to the fifth pharaoh of Egypt’s twelfths dynasty, named Khahaure†¦show more content†¦Around 3000, B.C the political differences of cause Abydos and Thinis to diminish and the growth of Memphis was founded. The significance of Abydos wasn’t demised; Abydos was still looked to as religious center point, the subseq uent of the pharaohs being buried in the new necropolis in Memphis. Towards the end of the Old Kingdom (ca.2200 BCE) a cult was formed in honor of the god Osiris. Abydos was the central point of the cult this meant, the cult was considered the rebirth of Osiris the god of the netherworld. During this time Osiris was thought to be buried at Umm el-Gaab having to join the canine god Khentamentiu now being known as Lord of Abydos. The history of Osiris continued to develop in Abydos over time from the end of the Old Kingdome too the beginning of the First Intermediate Period (CA.2200-2050 BCE) and the Middle Kingdom (CA.2050-1700 BCE). Abydos was still the religious icon for the townsmen and the cult. Religious precessions occurred from Umm el-Gaab to the burial site of Egyptians pharaoh Osiris. The two pharaohs Osiris and Khentamentiu both had their similarities, were both of their subjects had an interest in the cult. The high interest of Osiris tomb lead, the cult to the necropolis es to believe that the pharaoh is buried in Abydos, were the temples were originally dedicated to the pharaoh. In the center of Kom es-Sultan, the royalShow MoreRelatedEssay about Hatshepsut: Fifth Pharaoh of the Eighteenth Dynasty of Egypt1357 Words   |  6 Pagesher great grandfather King Ahmose I who established her families Dynasty decreed it to be a way of balancing the order of the universe. Queen Tetisheri in Hatshepsut’s mind was like a Pharaoh before Ahmose I. Queen Tetisheri’s mortuary temple at Abydos has an inscription from King Ahmose I stating that she was: ...one who cares for Egypt. She has looked after her [i.e. Egypt’s] soldiers; she has guarded her; she has brought back her fugitives, and collected together her deserters; she has pacified

The Secret Circle The Hunt Chapter 25 Free Essays

From behind a stand of bulky trees came Max, his dad, and the two hunters who’d escaped from the rooftop – Jedediah and Louvera Felton. Each of them held a stone carved into the shape of the hunter symbol – the same relics they’d used to kill Suzan. Scarlett bolted at first sight of the hunters, disappearing into the woods. We will write a custom essay sample on The Secret Circle: The Hunt Chapter 25 or any similar topic only for you Order Now Why wasn’t Cassie surprised? With all her big talk, of course at heart Scarlett was just a coward. A quick look passed between Diana and Max. He frowned at her with shame and sadness in his eyes, like he might have been there against his will. â€Å"Now!† Mr. Boylan screamed, raising his symbol into the air. Adam shot his hands toward the principal, calling out a defense spell. Nick tried throwing his energy at him with a fire blast. But Mr. Boylan and all the hunters appeared to be resistant to their magic. They clung to their relics and chanted their own curse, unhindered by anything cast their way. â€Å"We have to get those stones out of their hands,† Melanie said. Together Chris and Doug charged for Louvera’s relic, but the moment they came within striking distance, they both dropped to the ground, holding their heads. Melanie dove for Jedediah’s relic, but she was also quick to fall, holding her head as if the relic had struck her. Cassie, Diana, and Faye were still wearing the Master Tools. They joined hands and moved toward the hunters, chanting, â€Å"Earth my body, water my blood, air my breath, and fire my spirit.† Mr. Boylan showed no fear of the Tools. He stepped forward, holding his symbol out to them, muttering the same words Cassie remembered hearing on the rooftop: I sum eius agens, I occidere in eius nomen – I sum eius agens, I occidere in eius nomen – Cassie could feel that the Tools weren’t working. She felt weak to the bone and powerless, and the bracelet remained cool and lifeless on her arm. Mr. Boylan seemed to grow stronger every second he continued his chant. He was getting the best of them. Laurel, Deborah, and Sean had all fallen down onto the ground. Cassie could no longer see anyone else. Her own head began to throb, her vision blurred, and she knew it wouldn’t be long before she also lost all her remaining strength. â€Å"Cassie,† Diana said. â€Å"I’m †¦Ã¢â‚¬  She folded to her knees. Max turned to Diana and cried out. He ran to where she’d fallen, standing between her and his father. Mr. Boylan tried to wave him out of the way, but Max wouldn’t budge. He placed his stone relic on the ground and raised his arms. â€Å"We have to stop this,† he said. â€Å"Stop the curse.† Tears of joy and relief filled Diana’s eyes. Max had come through for her. Adam appeared at Cassie’s side, winded and confused. â€Å"What’s he doing?† he asked. The hunters had been thrown off by Max’s turnaround. For a brief moment they had ceased chanting, looking to Mr. Boylan for direction, but now they resumed again with full force. Max’s father picked up Max’s relic from the ground and held it out for him. â€Å"Take this,† he said. But Max refused to accept it. He stood tall with Diana behind him. â€Å"Don’t make a terrible mistake,† his father said. â€Å"Obey your destiny.† Max glanced back at Diana and then returned his eyes to his father. â€Å"I am obeying my destiny,† he said. The Circle watched Max in awe. There were a few seconds of silence, long enough for Cassie to hear Diana inhale with a quick, shallow breath and stumble to her feet. And then with a swift swipe to the head, Mr. Boylan knocked Max out cold. Diana dashed to Max’s aid, but Jedediah pummeled her with a few ominous words. She spilled onto the ground beside Max’s unconscious body. Laurel crawled over to Cassie, horrified. â€Å"Do something,† she screamed. â€Å"Whatever you did on the roof, do it again.† Faye leaned forward at Cassie’s side, breathless. â€Å"You have to,† she begged. â€Å"You’re our only hope.† But before Cassie could say a word, Adam winced as if he’d been shot. Then he dropped facedown onto the ground. Faye also buckled and then collapsed, holding her head in her hands. Cassie looked around. She was the only Circle member still standing. She locked eyes with Mr. Boylan and burned with a feverish heat. Book or no book, she had the power in her, and she knew it. All she had to do was let it take her over. Cassie centered her mind and took a deep breath. She told herself that just this one time it was okay to give in, to let the darkness wash over her and surge through her veins. But suddenly her legs went out from under her. Her head felt like it had been cracked open, and a splitting pain assured her she’d acted too late. All her energy was being drained from her body. It was the sensation of dying, she was sure of it. Through her hazy vision, she could see that Max had awakened and was trying to rise to his feet, but the other two hunters were restraining him. They held him back as they continued the curse, their relics still in hand. The entire Circle had been overpowered. Each of them lay scattered around the muddy ground like insects left for dead. The hunters’ chant became louder. Mr. Boylan had closed his eyes and raised his arms to the sky, ecstatic and triumphant. Cassie could hardly believe that after such a long, hard fight it could end so pitifully for her Circle. But then Mr. Boylan’s eyes shot open again and he suddenly drew back. â€Å"Not again,† he said. â€Å"It can’t be possible.† The other hunters anxiously scanned the surrounding area. They’d stopped mumbling their curse and tilted their heads toward the woods to listen. Cassie faintly heard what they were hearing. Another language, both foreign and familiar. It was Scarlett. She was in the distance, walking toward them, chanting a dark spell. Jedediah clutched his chest as he had on the roof. His face reddened as he gasped for air, and he screamed for their retreat. He and Louvera backed away from Max and fled in the opposite direction. Max was dazed. He was squinting his eyes, searching the ground for Diana, clambering like a baby deer new to its hooves. And then he shrieked in pain, clutching his heart. Chris, Doug, and Sean rose back up to a standing position. Deborah, Laurel, and Melanie did the same. The Circle was regaining its strength even as Max’s waned. Diana cried out to Scarlett. â€Å"You’re killing him!† But Scarlett was unstoppable. Mr. Boylan hurried to Max and helped him to his feet. â€Å"It’s an ancient,† he said. â€Å"We have to run.† He steadied Max’s arm around his neck. Max, writhing in agony, allowed his father to drag him away, and within minutes they were gone, swallowed up by the shadowy woods. Tragedy had been averted. â€Å"I guess we showed them,† Scarlett said, as she sauntered to the center of the pounded and baffled group. â€Å"Or at least I did.† Her eyes were still dark from the forbidden spell. Cassie recognized the aftermath of intense power and pleasure on Scarlett’s face. It made Cassie envious, resentful even. How was Scarlett able to tap into her dark magic without losing all control? She appeared able to turn it on and off at will. â€Å"Don’t worry,† Scarlett said. â€Å"I don’t expect a thank-you. Not yet anyway.† She made her way toward the car. â€Å"We’d better get out of here, in case they have any more surprises for us. We need time to regroup and restore our energy.† Everyone, a little dazed, obediently followed behind her as if she’d just proven herself the Circle’s most worthy leader. Cassie, Adam, and Diana hung back. â€Å"I hate to admit it,† Diana said. â€Å"But if we hadn’t initiated her, we’d be dead right now.† â€Å"But that was black magic that she used against them.† Adam glanced momentarily at Cassie. â€Å"Wasn’t it?† Cassie nodded. â€Å"Well, whatever it was,† Diana said, â€Å"she did it for us. She had the chance to escape into the woods and leave us for dead, and she didn’t.† Adam was in agreement. â€Å"We still can’t trust her, but maybe she can be useful to us after all.† â€Å"Maybe,† Cassie said. But she knew better than anyone that one good deed didn’t change who someone was. How to cite The Secret Circle: The Hunt Chapter 25, Essay examples