"Dissent is the highest form of patriotism." What does this mean to you?

Question

A quote from Howard Zinn. I like it. This is my thought. I don't have to like Bush to love my country. Just because we have a great country doesn't mean it couldn't be better.

Answer 1

Correct on all counts.

I'd add these thoughts. Some leaders (including thi current administration) have tried to equate patriotism with supporting their policies.  That is wrong.  This is not a monarchy, and neither Bush, Cheney, nor any other official has the right to say, as did Louis XIV of France "I am the state."  They are public servants--and nothing more. If they do a good job, fine. If not, it is they who are answerable to the citizens of this country, not the other way around.

Dissent is the right o fany American. When we see politicians act in a way we believe to be wrong, it is not only our right, it is our duty. Any other attitude is completely at odds with everything America stands for.

Answer 2

It means that me calling you a moron means that I'm really your closest ally.

I don't buy into that logic, but you apparently do.

Answer 3

It means that being a zombie mindlessly supporting the status quo does a huge disservice to our country.

And that people willing to face reality have a better chance of creating growth, adaptation, and improvement in America.  

The stagnation and decay of our present situation means people who are awake and fully conscious need to make themselves heard. Big time.

Answer 4

It's not Jefferson.  That's a myth.

The quote means nothing.  Might as well say "Eating peanut butter sandwiches is the highest form of patriotism".  Carries about the same amount of weight.

Just because you don't like something your country does, doesn't make you a patriot.

Answer 5

Yeah, that's how America is supposed to work.

“A society that will trade a little liberty for a little order will lose both, and deserve neither” - Thomas Jefferson.  

Answer 6

It makes me wonder why we don't have a peace candidate in this election. Move on has sponsered Peace Protests for the last eight years and now they support Obama.

Obama wants to send more troops to Afganistan.

Obama's plan to "withdraw" from Iraq will take a year and half, and leave a military strike force behind in permanent bases.

Obama has already engaged in sabre rattling with Pakistan and he's not even the President yet!

What happened to Move on: the non-partisan anti-war organization? What happened to the Democrats? Why isn't there a peace candidate in this election?

Here's a link to an open letter form Howard Zinn to Obama and McCain, and some other links

Answer 7

Sure?

Then that must be the minority group?

Look in the real world.

Who created cheap-skate ghostly stories.

On majority in control.

With hear-say on patriotism?

Short-changing, conning and deceiving  little children with self lack of knowledge in broad daylights in own backyards?

Matt 7.15- 27

What do you think?

Answer 8

Howard Zinn is a left wing radical who is still living in the 60's. This is double talk that justifies the 'moral superiority' of his opinion. By implying  his anti-establishment rhetoric is 'the highest form of patriotism', he is saying with you are some sort of mind numbed idiot if you can see why his opinion is correct.    

Answer 9

dissent is what started our wonderful, free society. our forefathers did that very same thing. they disagreed with the way thier king was running and ruining thier efforts in being prosperous. they bestowed that thought to us the people to do that same exact thing, "to dissent",  if the government that they had set up for us should in anyway backfire. it is our patriotic duty as an american to dissent shall our government become corrupted in any way shape or form. that is why our forefathers gave us the right to bare arms, the freedom of speech, the right to a free press, etc...government, the larger it is, the more corrupt it becomes and its our patriotic duty to eachother and to ourselves to uphold the principle to re-establish freedom when it is threatened! now my question to you is "do you feel that dissention in these times are proper"?  

Answer 10

I don't think China or Russia would agree with that statement.

It's a little twisted and dissent is a strong word.

It sounds like they totally disagree with everything this country stands for with a statement like that, and I don't think that's far from the truth!