Thoreau and Our 'Moral Conscience'

 

Henry David Thoreau in his publication "Civil Disobedience" invited us to question the most basic equation of democracy: The majority rules. In his predicament the great mass of people can also make great massive mistakes when electing its representatives; therefore we must all be prepared to dissent consciously from the representatives' decisions and actions when injustice appears. 

An individual that sees injustice and 'does nothing' is similar to an individual that receives orders and follows them blindly. I agree with Thoreau that since all of us are born with a capacity to recognize what is morally right or wrong, we are therefore forced to exercise this capacity.

Many Tyrants and dictators rise as a product of democratic elections. The fact that we choose someone via popular vote does not necessarily mean that this person will be fit to serve or that all of the leader's decisions are made in the basis of justice. Thoreau invites us then to trust our own ability to reject the impositions made by this greater entity called State and evaluate if what the State dictates (laws) are actually made in line with the same idea of justice we have. 

I personally think that collective agreement is important, but it is crucial to recognize our individual capacity to become aware when an 'official law' is indeed negatively affecting all of us. Thoreau not only invites us to recognize it but to ACT on it. He makes this distinction when he makes fun of people who oppose certain ideas of the government but who do nothing to change them. 

For us it is a similar predicament. Yes, we are part of a democratic government that allows the majority to choose based on population (electoral college) but we do not have to stay quiet for four years until the next election. There are issues that occur after each election and within the boundaries of our communities that need to be addressed and that require individual action in order to be solved effectively. 

I think that Thoreau expands the concept of democracy not only as the rule of the majority but the power of the individual's consciousness. How we can oppose wars, oppose laws and simply police the government we have elected as well.