Simple Deduction

Fourth of July, was normally spent on Gross Ile at a family friends place. Dr. Wayne has no kids and so he would wait for us to excitedly climb on to his boat,and just as eagerly take us on a cruise along the Detroit River. With my sister and my older cousin, we were celebrating with many others, winding in and out among the many river-boats. It was beautiful sunny day and lots of people were out on the river.  Unknown to us, we had been spotted by the coast guards and were being followed. As soon as we got near the Gross Ile marina, we were stopped and detained for being illegal immigrants. For three hours, four-year old me was kept away from my family.

The government was just doing its job when it detained me, thinking I was an illegal immigrant or even arrested Thoreau for not paying his poll taxes.While reading Civil Disobedience, I disagreed with Thoreau's "that government is best which governs least" (Jefferson) ideas.  I have no issues against the government. In my case, illegal immigrants are a fair and right case that the government has to deal with. This is a problem because illegal immigrants take jobs and benefits that could go to the American people. Similarly with Thoreau's case, the government was trying to be fair. Everyone has to pay taxes whether they support something or not. Thoreau states that people contradict themselves when they condemn issues that the government supports yet pay taxes. I am an American citizen yet the government detained me as an illegal immigrant. Everybody makes mistakes, but I do not think that serves a call for anarchy or rebellion. The government we have allows both Thoreau and me the freedom to express ourselves and the freedom to support and condemn ideas, but we can not take it so far as to suggest rebellion. Government is our friend. One can blame things on it, have fights with it, threaten to cease our ties with it but ultimately it is our fault too sometimes.

The young man who detained me, sat alongside me for three hours on a hill overlooking the marina. While we were waiting, me, being the fidgety child tried to get closer to the water. He repeatedly advised, as a father would, to not move closer to the water otherwise I would fall in. Yet nearly a few minutes later, I slipped and he caught me before I could tumble into the murky water. The government safe-guarded me even though I did not want to listen. He was peaceable and honest with me, even though I was a child. I did not throw a fit or curse the government for its corruptibility. Thoreau needs to relax, the government has a job to do; it needs to protect its people so that we have the freedom to write essays like Civil Disobedience.