Morality in the Government

“The government is best which governs least.” This is Henry David Thoreau’s motto which points out the importance of men having the will to take action in right time, to break law, and to be an extremist which enable the least government to be existed. However, ironically, Martin Luther King Jr. once imprisoned for being untimelyness, willing to break law, being an extremist when he takes non-violent resistance against racism. Through their writings, they prove the importance of taking action which is inevitable against lopsided justice. For Martin Luther King Jr., the government and the white church leaders abuse the God-given human rights, and for Henry David Thoreau, the government disrupts human conscience by holding slavery and Mexican War. Through their writings, they define the right time, just law, and an extremist.

Timely is the one of the important factor deciding when to take actions. Since the United States Declaration of Independence from Great Britain which is written by Thomas Jefferson, people get the right to throw off the government if the government does no good of expedient. Thoreau emphasizes the importance of taking action before the faults whereas King is criticized by the clergymen for being untimely.

Thoreau pointed out how useless it is to try to fix the problem after the majorities get hurt. There is an idiom which addresses his point; to lock the stable door after the horse is stolen. Thoreau describes, “they ought to wait until they have persuaded the majority to alter them.” One tragedy in South Korea has occurred on the last week shows majority is altered after the accident. The ferry with over the four hundred people capsized, and only hundred and seventy people are rescued. The entire country ...

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... to break unjust law to gain God-given right. King also explicit the disappointment for the church leadership, for they are one who takes action to spread the gospel to people. King also criticizes the white moderates who are busy hiding the actual problem for not making tension has worsened the actual problem.

In conclusion, Thoreau and King have pointed out the importance of taking action at the right time, against the unjust laws, and be an extremist who takes action from principal. Henry David Thoreau and Martin Luther King Jr. do not yielding their principals and willing to die from it.

Work Cited

Thoreau, Henry David. "Civil Disobedience" A World of Ideas. Ed. Lee A. Jacobus. Bedford/St. Martin's, 2002. 301-324. Print.

King, Martin Luther, Jr. “Letter from Birmingham Jail” A World of Ideas. Ed. Lee A. Jacobus. Bedford/St. Martin's, 2002. 375-392. Print.