Albel Which reason does Thoreau give for the idea that revolt
is justified?
If one were to tell me that this was a bad government
because it taxed certain foreign commodities brought to
its ports, it is most probable that I should not make an
ado about it, for I can do without them. All machines
have their friction... But when the friction comes to
have its machine, and oppression and robbery are
organized, I say, let us not have such a machine any
longer. In other words, when a sixth of the population of
a nation which has undertaken to be the refuge of liberty
are slaves, and a whole country is unjustly overrun and
conquered by a foreign army, and subjected to military
law, I think that it is not too soon for honest men to rebel
and revolutionize. What makes this duty the more urgent
is the fact, that the country so overrun is not our own, but
ours is the invading army.
-"On the Duty of Civil
Disobedience,"
Henry David Thorean
O Rebellion is the citizens' urgent duty.
O Citizens are aware of the right to rebel against an
unjust government.
Most citizens deem the government's actions
tyrannical
O Oppression and robbery have become
institutionalized in the government.
Done
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