Shylene Mejia
Class: POL 166
Professor: Barry Murdaco
Lehman College
Assignment 5 Fundamental American Liberties
The assigned reading for the week of 10/24/15 were Henry David Thoreau’s 1848 “Civil Disobedience”, Elizabeth Cady Stanton’s 1848 "Declaration of Rights and Sentiments”, and Frederick Douglass’s 1855 "A Lecture on the Anti-Slavery Movement”. In this discussion, I will discuss an excerpt of Thoreau’s piece. Thoreau states in “Civil Disobedience”:
“ “ Under a government which imprisons any unjustly, the true place for a just man is also a prison. The proper place to-day, the only place which Massachusetts has provided for her freer and less desponding spirits, is in her prisons, to be put out and locked out of the State by her own act, as they have already put themselves out by their principles. It is there that the fugitive slave, and the Mexican prisoner on parole, and the Indian come to plead the wrongs of his race, should find them; on that separate, but more free and honorable ground, where the State places those who are not with her, but against her — the only house in a slave State in which a free man can abide with honor. If any think that their influence would be lost there, and their voices no longer afflict the ear of the State, that they would not be as an enemy within its walls, they do not know by how much truth is stronger than error, nor how much more eloquently and effectively he can combat injustice who has experienced a little in his own person. Cast your whole vote, not a strip of paper merely, but your whole influence. A minority is powerless while it conforms to the majority; it is not even a minority then; but it is irresistible when it clogs by its whole weight. If the alternative is to keep all just men in prison, or give up war and slavery, the State will not hesitate which to choose. If a thousand men were not to pay their tax-bills this year, that would not be a violent and bloody measure, as it would be to pay them, and enable the State to commit violence and shed innocent blood. This is, in fact, the definition of a peaceable revolution, if any such is possible. If the tax-gatherer, or any other public officer, asks me, as one has done, "But what shall I do?" my answer is, "If you really wish to do anything, resign your office." When the subject has refused allegiance, and the officer has resigned his office, then the revolution is accomplished. But even suppose blood should flow. Is there not a sort of blood shed when the conscience is wounded? Through this wound a man's real manhood and immortality flow out, and he bleeds to an everlasting death. I see this blood flowing now.” ”
I am in strong agreement with the first sentence. As the common perception is those who go to jail have done wrong and are further negatively labeled as criminals. As a population, we are taught to respect the law and not taught enough how to critically question it. As a community or group many do not even give it two thoughts regarding what are people in jail for or question the judicial system we are under. The rhetoric states “We are in the land of the free”, but how free are we when minor offenses can land us in jail. There may be more liberties than in more conservative countries but we are not free. I speak of nonviolent “crimes” such as graffiti, parking violation, jay walking and so forth. The AfroAmerican community is aware of the faults of the judicial system but many new immigrants may not recognize the systems in place that can be detrimental to our communities.
I choose this paragraph because I have high hopes for the future. Many of the marginalized populations, are securing leaders to speak for them and advocate. I am for Bernie Sanders, because he speaks of a political revolution where people involve themselves in the change. We can all affect change, but an education is necessary to some extent. There is a current debate regarding mass incarceration, decriminalizing marijuana, wealth inequality, and political awareness such as “black lives matter” movement which I believe are healthy to our country.
References
Thoreau, H. (1948). Thoreau's Civil Disobedience - 2. Retrieved November 15, 2015, from http://thoreau.eserver.org/civil2.html
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