Thoreau and Martin Luther King Compared Essays

Thoreau and Martin Luther King Compared Essays Thoreau and Martin Luther King Compared Paper Thoreau and Martin Luther King Compared Paper there are three choices: obey them, obey them while working to change them, or transgress them at once. Consequently, both chooses to passively resist the laws they believed that are against their morals, and are prepared to accept imprisonment . The exercise of passive resistance is the basis of the title of Thoreaus work, and King presents several examples of civil disobedience in his letter, including the Boston Tea Party. King not only exercises passive resistance, he also provides the procedure to be followed for any nonviolent campaign. Nonviolence offers a creative outlet for represses emotions which might otherwise result in violence. If King was an extremist, then he was an extremist for love. There were four basic steps in his nonviolent campaign: â€Å"collection of the facts to determine whether injustice exist, negotiation, self-purification, and direct actionâ€Å"(King 658). He points out that he has gone through all the steps, and direct action is what brought him to the Birmingham Jail. Recognition of injustice and passive resistance described by both authors is to point out the need of government reformation. Thoreau recommended using direct action to create social tension, thus leading to the reform of unjust laws practiced by the government. He voiced civil disobedience as, â€Å"An expression of the individual’s liberty to create change† (642). Thoreau felt that the government had established order that resisted reform and change. â€Å"Action from principle, the perception and performance of right, changes things and relations; it is essentially revolutionary† (643) Thoreau calls for a better government, immediately, and points out that the fastest way to improve government is to Let every man make know what kind of government would command his respect, and that will be one step toward obtaining it (638). He states his views in the following passage: But, to speak practically and as a citizen, unlike those who call themselves no-government men, I ask for, not at once no government, but at once a better government. Let every man known what kind of government would command his respect, and that will be one step toward obtaining it. (638) King does not directly states the need to reform government, but instead, he states the need to reform the existing social structure, which goes hand in hand with governmental progress. He advocates social equality and racial justice, believing Anyone who lives inside the United States can never be considered an outsider anywhere within its bounds (657), and passively fighting against unjust laws forced upon the minority. Even though Thoreau agreed with King on the issues, he also made contradictory statements directly against what he supported. He wrote If the injustice is part of the necessary friction of the machine of government, let it go†(Thoreau 644), stating that if injustice was inevitable and helped to improve government, then it was justified. Opposed to his passive resistance, he also justified bloodshed as he stated But even suppose blood should flow. Is there not a sort of blood shed when the conscience is wounded? (Thoreau 646). As for improvements to government, he believed That government is best which governs least (Thoreau 637). Thoreau expresses an eagerness to conform to the laws of the land as long as there is no moral principle to be violated. He is willing to obey those who know more than he; yet the authority of the government depends upon the consent of the governed. â€Å"There will never be a really free and enlightened State, until the State comes to recognize the individual as a higher and independent power, from which all it’s own power and authority are derived, and treats him accordingly† (654). Thoreau would rather up end in jail than go against his will. The passage, †Your money is your life, why should I haste to give it my money?† (648) illustrates how strongly he felt. Thoreau never rallied hundreds of thousands of people together, violently or nonviolently, to get reactions. Instead, he went to jail to protest and wrote his essay, â€Å"Civil Disobedience.† King took the same idea of direct action to protest the injustices brought upon black Americans in the United States. He used peaceful sit-ins and rallies to unite the black community. These non-violent acts of public speech and action eventually lead to King’s arrest. Here in Birmingham, Alabama he wrote, â€Å"Letter from Birmingham City Jail† telling the clergymen he wanted direct action, which purpose was â€Å"to create a situation so crisis-packed that it will inevitably open the door to negotiation†(659). Thoreaus writing is vague, and mostly an appeal to the intellect, which sharply contrasted with the writing of King, an appeal to the emotion of the readers. Although both writing made similar points, they are also a sharp contrast of the other and undoubtedly very unique. Both used civil disobedience to change people’s ideas and beliefs to stop the injustice brought against them and their nation. Thoreau and King definitely shared many of the same ideas of how to deal with unjust laws performed by the government. Thoreau didn’t have the legions of followers King did, but he still made a long-term impact. King actually adopted Thoreau’s teachings and ideas of direct action and used them in leading the movement to end racial segregation in the United States. Both men inspired reforms and also much overturning of unjust laws and customs in our country. We, as a society, should look at these two people as heroic figures and learn from their teachings. This will help us better our knowledge of how to use non-violent direct action for future national and international problems we may encounter.

All About Old Growth or Virgin Forests

All About Old Growth or Virgin Forests An old growth forest, late serial forest, primary forest or ancient forest is a woods of great age that exhibits unique biological features. Depending on tree species and forest type, the age can be from 150 to 500 years. Old growth forests typically contain a mixture of large live and dead trees or snags. Unharvested fallen tree logs in various states of decay litter the forest floor. Some environmentalists blame the dramatic loss of U.S. old growth forests to exploitation and disruption by Euro-Americans. It is true that old growth stands need a century or more to grow. How Will You Know You are in an Old Growth Forest? Foresters and botanists use certain criteria to determine old growth. Sufficient age and minimal disturbance is necessary to be classified as old growth. Characteristics of old-growth forest will include presence of older trees, minimal signs of human disturbance, mixed-age stands, canopy openings due to tree falls, pit-and-mound topography, downed and decaying wood, standing snags, multi-layered canopies, intact soils, a healthy fungal ecosystem, and presence of indicator species. What is a Second Growth Forest? Forests regenerated after harvests or severe disruptions like fire, storms or insects is often referred to as a second-growth forest or regeneration until a long enough period has passed that the effects of the disturbance are no longer evident. Depending on the forest, to become an old growth forest again may take anywhere from one to several centuries. Hardwood forests of the eastern United States can develop old-growth characteristics with several generations of trees existing in the same forest ecosystem, or 150-500 years. Why are Old Growth Forests Important? Old growth forests are often rich, biodiverse communities harboring wide varieties of plants and animals. These species must live under stable conditions free from severe disturbance. Some of these arboreal creatures are rare. The age of the oldest trees in an ancient forest indicates that destructive events over a long period were of moderate intensity and did not kill all the vegetation. Some suggest that old growth forests are carbon sinks that lock up carbon and help prevent global warming.

Public Patriarchal Authority in Joe Ortons Plays Essay

Public Patriarchal Authority in Joe Ortons Plays - Essay Example In fact, it is considered that "he communicated so successfully his version of the world Ortonesque as implying a peculiar mixture of the violent, the formal, and the amusing" (Orton, 1997). There are so many plays which Orton participated in and which thus could be discussed in his regards, however the aim of this paper is to discuss three plays and three characters in particular, the plays being: Entertaining Mr. Sloane, Loot, and What the Butler Saw; and the three characters being: Kemp, Truscott, and Rance. By addressing and discussing certain issues in this regards, such as the shared characteristics between the three and what they represent, their authority and power over the other characters in the plays and the power of the public patriarchal figures, as well as by examining the issue of Orton's plays being anti-authoritarian and undermining the patriarchal authorities, we will be able to come to a much more informed and knowledgeable understanding on this matter overall. Thi s is what will be dissertated in the following. Beginning with the play Entertaining Mr. Sloane, which was given its very first performance at the New Arts Theatre on May 6, 1964, and it ended up winning the London Critics' 'Variety' Award as the best play of the year. This play was said to be of interest 'only to those epicenes who look upon the public humiliation of women as grand sport'. This play includes the character Kemp, who is the father of Eddie who is the homosexual brother to Kath, who is a landlady; the basic plot of this story is that Kath, who is a single woman of 41, and who lives with her decrepit father Kemp, and Eddie, her brother, visits her occasionally, in their scruffy old house that sits on the edge of a rubbish dump. Then one day a man named Sloane comes to the house looking for a place to stay, and both Kath and Ed find themselves immediately attracted to Sloane, and not only that, but we see throughout the play that they are also getting a kick out of the fact of how they are sharing the same lover. Kem p is thus part of a very dysfunctional family, and although he is certainly not fully aware of everything that is taking place in his home, he is in on some of it. Kemp has very traditional values and beliefs, and if he was completely aware of some of the things that were taking place basically right in front of him, he would be horrified and angry. Kemp is absolutely the pubic patriarchal authority in this story, and he has authority and power over the other characters, primarily due to his age and thus seniority, however with Kath and Ed he especially has authority over them as their father. When we look at the play Loot, we see that this play is quite different from the one previously discussed, as this one is more of a dark farce, one which satirises the Roman Catholic Church, social attitudes to death, and as well the integrity of the police force. The play is described as: "Loot follows the fortunes of two young thieves, Hal and Dennis. Together they rob the bank next to the funeral parlor where Dennis works and return to Hal's home to hide the money. Hal's mother has just died and the money is hidden in her coffin whilst her body keeps on appearing around the house. Upon the arrival of Inspector Truscott the

American Politics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

American Politics - Essay Example While the limitations of the President in effecting change can limit a President whose point of view does not reflect that of the best welfare of the United States, the powers of Congress can impede a President whose interests would better suit the welfare of the citizens of the United States. The nature of the three branches of power within the federal government of the United States were set into balance so that no one branch could attain so much power that it could fully countermand those of the other branches. While the President holds veto power and the Supreme Court can discount laws where they do not fall in line with the spirit and intent of the constitution, these powers can too be circumvented by the powers of Congress. The powers of the Presidency, in particular, were limited so that no one man could rule the nature through despotic power. Although, in recent history the nation has experienced events that led to such types of power taken and used inappropriately. This goes to show that vigilence must be attended in order to contain the nation as a truly democratic and free social structure that is defined by its federal diligence at maintaining that integrity (Tucker and Tucker 407). Article II of the Constitutions of the United States sets down the powers of the President of the United States. Section 1 provides the parameters of the term of office, the parameters of who is eligible to be President, and the parameters of how the President will be elected. Section 2 provides initial context to the nature of the powers of the President. The first clause gives the President the command of the armed forces, but implicitly states that it is only through Congressional agreement that war can be declared. The second clause outlines the President’s power to put into effect treaties. He must get a two thirds vote

Use of Brucellosis in Bioterrorism Essay -- Biological Terrorism Terro

Bioterrorism Brucellosis is a very threatening biological weapon in the sense that it does not cause fatality, but incapacitates its victims. Not only this, but it is hard to diagnose since the symptoms it induces are extremely nonspecific. Bioterrorism has existed for countless years, and there is no doubt that it will be used in the future. The only thing we have to worry about now is how it will be put to use. Despite going through the trouble of setting up pacts to prevent the use of biological weapons, its presence continues to cause problems on a worldwide scale. It is often said that what we fear the most is in fact fear itself. Happiness cannot negate it, but simply aids in distracting the mind from it; ignorance, on the other hand, harbors fear and provides it a space to grow and envelop the mind. This feeling of terror and insecurity arises from any situation that is presented to us in which we have no control over and is not within the boundaries of our own comfort zones. This flaw in man’s mental state has set in stone a gateway that has led to man’s greatest achievement. It is indeed a terrifying accomplishment, but none would be wise to deny its genius. The theory of this horrifying weapon has been used for thousands of years, and the world may someday fall at its feet. It would be a fallacy to say that it will not be used for years and years to come. Everything aforementioned can be summed up in one word: bioterrorism. Although a plethora of biological agents exist, one in particular acts as one of the most imp ortant destructors regarding animal disease—Brucellosis (Grey). Whenever the word â€Å"bioterrorism† is mentioned, one of the first agents people naturally think of is Bacillus anthracis, the ... ... It is quite a shame that the executive powers in the world feel the need to have such dangerous chemicals and substances to make them feel safe. There is much at stake with countries harboring deadly weapons, and the future seems bleak for generations to come. Works Cited Alton, G. G. and J.R.L. Forsyth. â€Å"Brucella.† Date unknown. 20 July 2007. . Anderson, Burt. Microorganisms and Bioterrorism. New York: Springer, 2006. â€Å"Bacterial Weapon Acting on Humans and Livestock.† Date unknown. 23 July 2007. . â€Å"Division of Bacterial and Mycotic Diseases: Brucellosis.† 6 Oct. 2005. 20 July 2007. . Grey, Michael and Kenneth Spaeth. The Bioterrorism Sourcebook. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2006. Use of Brucellosis in Bioterrorism Essay -- Biological Terrorism Terro Bioterrorism Brucellosis is a very threatening biological weapon in the sense that it does not cause fatality, but incapacitates its victims. Not only this, but it is hard to diagnose since the symptoms it induces are extremely nonspecific. Bioterrorism has existed for countless years, and there is no doubt that it will be used in the future. The only thing we have to worry about now is how it will be put to use. Despite going through the trouble of setting up pacts to prevent the use of biological weapons, its presence continues to cause problems on a worldwide scale. It is often said that what we fear the most is in fact fear itself. Happiness cannot negate it, but simply aids in distracting the mind from it; ignorance, on the other hand, harbors fear and provides it a space to grow and envelop the mind. This feeling of terror and insecurity arises from any situation that is presented to us in which we have no control over and is not within the boundaries of our own comfort zones. This flaw in man’s mental state has set in stone a gateway that has led to man’s greatest achievement. It is indeed a terrifying accomplishment, but none would be wise to deny its genius. The theory of this horrifying weapon has been used for thousands of years, and the world may someday fall at its feet. It would be a fallacy to say that it will not be used for years and years to come. Everything aforementioned can be summed up in one word: bioterrorism. Although a plethora of biological agents exist, one in particular acts as one of the most imp ortant destructors regarding animal disease—Brucellosis (Grey). Whenever the word â€Å"bioterrorism† is mentioned, one of the first agents people naturally think of is Bacillus anthracis, the ... ... It is quite a shame that the executive powers in the world feel the need to have such dangerous chemicals and substances to make them feel safe. There is much at stake with countries harboring deadly weapons, and the future seems bleak for generations to come. Works Cited Alton, G. G. and J.R.L. Forsyth. â€Å"Brucella.† Date unknown. 20 July 2007. . Anderson, Burt. Microorganisms and Bioterrorism. New York: Springer, 2006. â€Å"Bacterial Weapon Acting on Humans and Livestock.† Date unknown. 23 July 2007. . â€Å"Division of Bacterial and Mycotic Diseases: Brucellosis.† 6 Oct. 2005. 20 July 2007. . Grey, Michael and Kenneth Spaeth. The Bioterrorism Sourcebook. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2006.

Cmlit Essay

Van's life is described as â€Å"most simple and ordinary and therefore most terrible† (Tolstoy 42). So what would happen when death befalls him? What would be with his material pursuits in life? Rather, what would be without a spiritual pursuit in life? As death loomed larger, Van's focus in life changed. He started to realize the flaws in his path of life. As time passed, he went from a being of self-concern to one of a spiritual concern. This concern eventually brought him to be gladdened by his death. Death is often said to be a reality.Many people fear it, but in reality it is not a bad thing. When one examines the lifestyle, one realizes that man is placed on this earth for a relatively short period of time, n relation to the existence of the world thus far and its projected existence. It would not be correct to say that one is looking forward to death, but as mortal creatures, we must contemplate death and be prepared for it, whether it be our own death, or the death of a relative or friend. One may go further to suggest that fear of death is a social construct. It may also be very dependent on on?s religious beliefs.I find it quite ironic that humans are so fixated on life which for many of us is a day to day struggle to survive â€Å"paycheck to paycheck†. When I was younger, I had a harsh lesson in death which taught me the meaning of life. Almost eleven years ago, my grandmother, who was very close with, passed away. She was very special to me because she lived very close to me and we saw each other at least twice a week. Most of my life she had lived about an hour away and only saw her once every few months, but during the last two years of her life, she lived five minutes away.She was a grandmother figure because she did anything for her children and grandchildren and hosted many family gatherings. About a year and a half before she passed away, she was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer. As a nouns child, I wasn't told about this immed iately. I remember being on a train from New York, back to Long Island, when my mother told me. It was a sunny day, which suddenly turned dark and gloomy after I heard this horrific news. I was sitting across from my mother as she told me. I remember asking â€Å"she will be gone? . It didn't sink in immediately because I wasn't ready to accept it. Remember thinking that she is still here so maybe she won't die. What was even more striking was once I saw her after heard about this, nothing seem to have changed. She was still my grandmother, and acting like it also. I didn't get lost in my emotions because life was the same. Cancer is an invisible malady. She looked the same last week, why suddenly is she dying? I didn't fully accept it until the night when she passed away.The doctors were unable to treat her and she had decided to live out her remaining days surrounded by family, in her home. Saw as she moved from a state of consciousness to a state of unconsciousness. The situatio n in the family turned to one of seriousness and sadness. They knew what was coming. Went into the den around eight o'clock on a Friday night. I sat down on the couch and couldn't old back my emotions. I had seen my grandmother a minute before in the bedroom over and she was peacefully laying there. I remember wondering if she was aware of what was going on.My mother came in and sat down next to me. My mother was upset since this was her mother, but as an adult she understood the outcome months ago and had accepted it. Reality sank in for me that Friday night. Was destroyed. I realized that she had a matter Of hours left. She had done so much for our family and felt that I could have never treated her as well as she treated me. My mother calmed me down and assured me that is everything is fine. She told me about the wonderful life my grandmother lived and the impact she had on her family, friends and community.She assured me that if everyone would live such a life, the world would h ave no issues. I sat there and began to contemplate what I was being told. Realized that as she returns her soul to god, she will be greeted at the gates of heaven by angels welcoming her in. She will be back with her parents, brother and my grandfather who had passed away a year earlier. As reflect back on that train ride where I was told of her impending death, I ant remember how long this was before her death.I suppose that the shock caused me to be overcome by other thoughts that I didn't retain when I was told. Also don't remember what happened after that train ride or where we were on the train when I was told. Remember being saddened upon hearing that she was dying, but as a child, death is a foreign concept. The idea that something is final and irreversible is unfathomable by children. Children are used to seeing changes in the world without understanding why they are happening, but as time passes, these changes revert back to their original Tate in many circumstances.The ph enomenon of death, which is irreversible, may be difficult to grasp when everything else lacks finality. My grandmother taught me the importance of family and proportioning in life. I witnessed as my family literally cared for her until her death which taught me a lesson in the importance of family. She taught me the importance of being a spiritual person by praying every day and making herself available whether it be day or night to help anybody in need. She taught me the importance of balancing spirituality with physicality so I will be prepared for death.

Social Injustice in the novel Of Mice and Men Essay

Im going to talk about the social injustice which had taken place on most of the characters in the novel Of Mice and Men. In the plot of Of Mice and Men, all of the ranch workers got very little amount of money although they worked for long hours. They had only one free day and stayed in one room which was not large enough. Generally, they were all in a lower status than their boss, they didnt have a family or anyone to depend on. In addition to these, they had also suffered from the attitudes of Curley (who was the son of the boss) towards them, and they couldnt do anything about it. Steinbeck used a very simple language with a detailed description to express the social injustice in their lives, so that everyone could†¦show more content†¦Nearly all the characters thought that he was worthless. He has expressed his ideas and feelings about this incident by saying Cause Im black. They play cards in there, but I cant play. Because Im black. They say I stink. Well, I tell you, you all of you stink to me (at Page 68). They had treated him as if he was an animal and didnt respect him at all. They had never listened to his ideas and always made fun of him. John Steinbeck tried to show his readers that using racism among people (like Crooks), human beings could be discriminated. He also used repetition of certain phrases and stereotyping terms like nigger to increase the tension on the subject. Thirdly, Candy, who was an old man, was also a victim of social injustice. He lost his arm while he was working and after that everybody started to treat him as if he had been useless. They didnt let him own a dog and they killed it without considering the negative effect of this incident on Candy. He explained his loneliness by using these words: When they can me here, I wisht somebodyd shoot me. But they wont do nothing like that. I wont have no place to go, an I cant get no more jobs. (Page 60). This time, Steinbeck preferred to use longer sentences to make the incident more emotional and to a ttract the attention of his readers on this part of the novel. IShow MoreRelatedOf Mice and Men2269 Words   |  10 PagesOf Mice and Men John Steinbeck World Literature Mrs. Finke December 7, 2012 Of Mice and Men: A Classic for the Ages Thesis: Despite some impurity Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck should be considered as a classic due to its honesty, truth, loveliness, justice and of good report. I. Introduction II. Impurity A. Swearing B. Violence C. Economic poverty D. Psychological corruption III. Honesty A. Steinbeck’sRead MoreOf Mice and Men1242 Words   |  5 PagesOf Mice and Men Thomas Hobbes in his Leviathan states that, in the state of nature mans life is nasty, brutish and short. In depression era America, no greater truth could be said. There were millions unemployed, largely unskilled and living on the margins of society. 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