Why does thoreau refer to civil disobedience not merely as a right but as a duty?

Thoreau refused to pay an extra tax for the war in Mexico and went to jail for it. He believed that government had to have the consent of the people to wage war or collect taxes. Thoreau believed that the liberty of the individual transcended that of the state. He felt that it was the individual's duty to oppose "the machine" when it oversteps its bounds,

"Let every man make known what kind of government would command his respect, and that will be one step toward obtaining it."

rudy is the nazi ideal, unfortunately for the nazis his ideal comes in the form of jesse the complete opposite of those who embrace the idea of white supremacy. over the course of the novel, rudy learns that he wants nothing to do with the hitler youth, and because of this his parents are forced to make a bargain; rudy's father is forced into the military, so that his son can remain home.   both liesel and hans influence that young man that rudy becomes. following han's example, rudy puts aside his own hunger to risk his life so that the jewish prisoners might have bread to eat.

it translates into:

read the letter of your pen pal. write and answer 3 questions.