e woods for as good a reason as I went there." The publishers of my edition of _Walden_ put "Civil Disobedience" at the end. I wondered if Kaczynski (if he is the Unabomber) also united the two. In this essay Thoreau defends opposition to unjust governments and describes a night spent in jail for refusing to pay taxes, protesting the American war with Mexico. Thoreau argues that one who wishes to be true to himself may need to live outside of government. Again, a Ted Kaczynski could draw inspiration -- some environmentalists certainly have. Though Foreman left EarthFirst!, in Defending the Earth_ he continues to draw inspiration from the story that Emerson came to bail Thoreau out of jail, and asked, "Henry, what are you doing in there?" Thoreau replied, "Ralph, what are you doing out there?" I worry that some environmentalists see civil disobedience as in itself a sufficient political act, and not only that but an act of allegiance to Thoreau's gospel. In fact, "Civil Disobedience" is not a monkeywrencher's guide to bringing down a government or changing society. It encourages people to take responsibility fortheir actions, and instructs them not to succumb with blind approbation to agovernment that acts wrongly. The point is that you have to learn aboutyourself and your beliefs and act accordingly. I wonder if Kaczynski, if he is the Unabomber, felt that _Walden_ shows how toappreciate nature, and "Civil Disobedience" shows how to behave against asociety that does not appreciate nature. I hope this was not the case. Thorea stresses that ultimately we have to save ourselves. The result may be that weare geographically or psychically separated from society, but what of it?Thoreau writes, "If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it isbecause he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which hehears, however measured, or far away." But just as important, in the passagepreceding this, Thoreau writes, "Let ever...
