Barbara H. Peterson
Henry David Thoreau’s essay “On the Duty of Civil Disobedience” written in 1849 is as relevant to the times now as it was then. We have a right to stand up and question any institution or individual that claims authority over us, just as he did then. In fact, it is our duty as citizens to do so. Thoreau decided that he could not be associated with the government of his day without disgrace. How about our government today? Can we associate with it without disgrace?
I can hear his words echoing in my mind: “It is not desirable to cultivate a respect for the law, so much as for the right” (Thoreau, 1849). Our government enacts laws that intend to subjugate and enslave. We are hit from all sides with programs that invade our privacy, take away our rights as free citizens, and make chattel of us. Our government is out of control, and its laws do not stand for what is right. Therefore, it is our duty as citizens to question its authority. It is our duty as citizens to revolt. Thoreau states: “All men recognize the right of revolution; that is, the right to refuse allegiance to, and to resist the government when its tyranny or its inefficiency are great and unendurable.” (Thoreau, 1849). So how do we go about this revolution? Thoreau makes it clear that
It is not a man’s duty, as a matter of course, to devote himself to the eradication of any, even the most enormous wrong…but it is his duty, at least, to wash his hands of it, and if he gives it no thought longer, not to give it practically his support (Thoreau, 1849).
We can resist in many ways, but the most effective method of resistance is to not support what we know to be wrong. We must live so that we are a counter friction, not supporting the wrongs that we condemn (Thoreau, 1849). If we deem it wrong to go to war due to corporate greed, we should not support anyone who supports that war. We can withdraw monetary support for a bloated, oppressive government by not supporting the income tax system. We can stop supporting any program or system that is driven by greed and causes others as well as us harm. If we are tired of the restrictions on free speech, we should shout as loudly as we can that the First Amendment to the Constitution has not been rescinded, and refuse to listen to the media talking heads who do nothing but spout government-sponsored propaganda. By withdrawing our support for the things we know to be wrong, we can make a difference. Some who take the road of resistance will be imprisoned, but take solace from the following: “Under a government, which imprisons any unjustly, the true place for a just man is also a prison” (Thoreau, 1849).
As Dylan Thomas so aptly put it: “Do not go gentle into that goodnight…rage, rage against the dying of the light.” May we find the strength to rage against the dying of the light of our nation while our republic gasps its last breath. May we, as individuals, find the courage to stand up to the powers that be and make the right choices. It starts with one person, and one choice. Do not abrogate your responsibility and sit on the fence of compromise. Decide to do what is right today.
References:
Thomas, D. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.bigeye.com/donotgo.htm
Thoreau, H.D. (1849). Retrieved from http://thoreau.eserver.org/civil.html
Copyright 2007, Barbara H. Peterson
Tags: Barbara H. Peterson, civil disobedience, Farm Wars, farmwars, nwo, resistance, revolution
Good article…Henry David Thoreau rocks, perhaps the N”SS”A data miners should reconsider.
IMO, the best thing we can do is to bow out of anything that promotes or supports the government and/or corporate tyranny we are now experiencing. Here are some suggestions:
1. Don’t buy anything GMO, which would include nearly everything that comes in a box or bag. Do your research. Cook simply and from scratch. Ask questions at farmers markets, e.g., is your produce GMO? Where do you get your seeds? Here’s a list of 400 non-GMO companies: http://www.realfarmacy.com/400-companies-no-gmos/
2. Shut off your cable or satellite service. Everything on TV is controlled propaganda, brainwashing, violence or soft porn.
3. Close any accounts in mega-banks; don’t do business with these too-big-to-fail criminal banksters.
4. Get out of debt ASAP. Do not take student loans; there are no jobs, and you can’t dismiss this debt through bankruptcy. 5. Barter goods and services in your local community whenever possible.
6. If you normally get a tax refund, it amounts to an interest-free loan to the government. File an amended W-4 and make sure you’re not overpaying your unconstitutional income-tax.
7. Write letters to the editors of your local newspapers complaining about the toxins and poisons being added to our food and water without our consent. Also send articles like Farm Wars to your local radio stations.
All Right encompass corollary Duties Obligations and Responsibilities! We have a duty to cast off perverse:
“G” over Men “t” = by the power of the Sword of Satan also
Govern means Control or RU EL over; Ment = from Ment um or Mind translate to Govern Ment = Control Minds of Ignorant Sheeple
We have two vital questions, in this situation:
1- Will THE People stand up and do Civil Disobedience, which will entail, possibly, being forceably “removed from this Reality” i.e. want Freedom so much that they will be willing to die for it?
AND
-Whether our own Social Class, family members or children in the Military and Civil Force, be willing to follow the orders of the Elite/Feds, and arrest and/or kill us?
Wholeheartedly agree! Reminds me of this speech,”There’s a time when the operation of the machine becomes so odious, makes you so sick at heart, that you can’t take part! You can’t even passively take part! And you’ve got to put your bodies upon the gears and upon the wheels…upon the levers, upon all the apparatus, and you’ve got to make it stop! And you’ve got to indicate to the people who run it, to the people who own it, that unless you’re free, the machine will be prevented from working at all!” Mario Savio
DNR = Do not resuscitate ;)
Wisconsin’s DNR face book page. Boy can you feel the love. I wonder why they didn’t put a SWAT team on those carp coming up the river that got away from a fish farm in Mississippi during Katrina.
https://www.facebook.com/WIDNR
Good for you Christine. Good luck with any of them alphabit agencies. Personally, they’re all in cahoots with Al-CIA-duh (I call all the gov. agencies, polliticians, Presstitutes, Bankster etc. that). I just finished a love letter to my state rep. about the WI DNR I’ll share with you. I’ve so far this year gotten him to support labeling laws and taking fluoride out of the water. I know I come a little off the wall, but he knows that, and that I’m just a little smarter than your average working stiff.
The 1st paragraph is from Veterans Today. The writer Jim Dean says he will put up contact info for these imbiciles when he can get them. (Link at the bottom.) I would also in all fairness to the WI DNR we do have a problem with CWD (Cronic wasting Disease) up in the upper midwest. But the presstitutes haven’t said squat about it for years.
An Al-Qaeda baby deer captured and killed in a dramatic law enforcement coup – Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources protects America from evil terrorist bio-weapon
I know they have some real head cases over in Wisconsin but this is over the top. They had used drones, a swat team and a stake out to accomplish this mission. How much money was spent? I mean Jesus, Mary and Joseph, a damn phone call would have been enough. Drones?? A stake out? Followed up with Darth Vaders Storm Troopers for a fawn??? I do know about CWD but this is just a big waste of taxpayers money so the kids can play with there toys!!
I hope MN DNR isn’t like them cerebral leprachauns in Wisconsin. I’m hoping if it is, you could take actions to make MN DNR not appear to be imbiciles to the world.
http://www.veteranstoday.com/2.....qaeda-fawn
A few months ago I got Ernie to look into fluoride by asking him if Hitler and Stalin were that concerned about there inmates teeth, or did the USA use it to keep “We The People” dumb and docile. I don’t know, I guess that’s my way to try to make people think about how absurd things really are today. At this point I really don’t give a rat what other people think.
Good luck again.
Abe,interesting. I was in court yesterday for almost identical circumstances. I live in AZ. Case is Pinal Count and Pinal County Animal care and control v my neighbor. I am assisting my neighbor in her defense. It is laughable, the extent to which the county prosecutor and Animal Control have taken this case. I got thrown out of court and threatened with further action by the appropriate agencies, for practicing law without license,(read the above link I provided. All bogus threats, and intended to scare and intimidate me into submission. Well, that only motivates me even more to expose them for what they are. The judge accused my of threatening him. After he threw me out of the courtroom, I was in the parking lot and the county attorney ran out and told me the judge wanted me back in there. That is when he asked, in open court, on the record, was I threatening him. I told him I would do the same to the county of which he stated he would do to me. And that is report them to the appropriate agencies for corruption and fed felonies in violation of civil rights, due process, equal protection, prosecutorial misconduct, malicious prosecution,etc. and I have already contacted the FBI and awaiting a call back so as to initiate this criminal investigation. We’ll see what he does. He and all the parties have been noticed both in open court as well as in writing and to govern themselves accordingly. So, I understand completely what you have described above. Now, it’s time to hold someone accountable for their blatant disregard for our RIGHTS. They have privileges…WE HAVE RIGHTS and it is time for us to start exercising them.
So very well stated. And so refreshing to know someone else out there shares my view. Civil Disobedience, currently, is a lonely place to be. I am actively demonstrating my own civil disobedience in the courts. What we,you, I think is the law, is actually a feudal system,derived directly from…yes, against everything the revolution fought to get rid of, The Crown. Look up BAR, or IBA. Or check this out:http://educate-yourself.org/cn.....ar05.shtml
Since this is where my passion is, this is my course of civil disobedience. And because of the importance of law and remedy at law for all of our grievances, keeps us in chains, I will continue to challenge it. The consequences for my exposing the actors,could be serious. However, as Barbara’s writing stated, when one has been called on and knows the truth, it is our duty and obligation to confront it head on, with or without support. Maybe when ‘they’ start carting people off to the FEMA Camps, there will be some awakening. I fear by then it will be to late for those who knew the wrong but buried their heads in the sand.
As always another winning article Barb. When will enough be enough. Well I’ve figured out along time ago how the government works. Every once in a blue moon logic, reason, and uncommon sense will prevail!
Wilst as a snuffy in the Corps I refused a direct order. I used the stupid is as stupid does defence. Instead of going to the brig, I was made section leader. Every one out ranked me. I’m sure this effected anyfurther promotions.
This brings me to Giggles and happened in Kenosha Wisconsin the otherday. This brought my blood to a superheated boil! It involved the Wisconsin DNR, the swat team, drones, and a stake out. Here’s the weenie! ALL THIS FOR A FAWN IN AN ANIMAL RESCUE CENTER. That’s right! They sent in Darth Vaders Storm Troopers for a spotted fawn that may have been 3, or 4 months old. Why?? You might ask?? In the name of public safety. Dispite the fact that the couple that took this fawn in, and had made arrangements for her to go to a place that was LICENSED to take wild animals. All this to euthanise a baby deer. Public safety my ass! Here’s the story from WISN News 12 in Kenosha WS.
http://www.wisn.com/news/armed.....index.html