Why does the right wing hold contempt for dissent?

Question

Funny how the right wing wraps themselves in the flag, arrogantly boasts America is a 'beacon of freedom', yet call for the punishment or arrest of anyone who speaks out against the war or Pres Bush. Some righties, like Michael Savage, called for war protestors to be taken out and shot. Many right wingers insist questioning Pres Bush and the war gives 'aid and comfort to the enemy'. What this tells me is the right holds distain for dissent- they demand conformity and obedience- (perhaps one reason why radical christians are drawn to bush).
So with the right loathing dissent- what, in right wing world, is freedom? In the real world dissent is a cornerstone of a democracy- but these people oppose dissent. Why does the right hold such contempt for dissent? Funny how the rules change when a democrat is president- The right has no problems with attacking bill Clinton or Jimmy Carter- yet they react with rage if a liberal voices critisism over either Bush, Reagan or Nixon..

Answer 1

This country was founded on Dissent...

Answer 2

Since when?
I've had some really bad experiences with some liberals on this site, and I'm not even a true conservative. I'm considerably more moderate.
It's actually rather ironic. See, without resorting to name-calling, or telling them that they were "anti-American", I pissed them off. All I did was disagree with them.
Know what they did? They accused me of being hateful, racist (my friends of other races found that HILARIOUS), a pedophile (I think not. Pedophiles sicken me.), a man (my friends, and my husband found that pretty amusing too!)....
I'm not a fan of Ann Coulter, but one thing that she says in her book "Godless", which I'm reading now (don't worry, I'm going to read that newer Al Franken book next, even though I think he's even more of an idiot than Rush Limbaugh), is that when a liberal is losing an argument, they will ALWAYS call their opponent racist.
I'm babbling. You probably won't read all this. What I'm saying is, it comes from both sides. Liberals are no better than conservatives, conservatives are no better than liberals. ESPECIALLY where the extremists are concerned.
Besides, dissenting is fine. It's HOW the dissenting is done that matters. If those people I mentioned had attacked my ideas, instead of me personally, I would have had no problem with it.
On the same token, if you want to attack President Bush for things he has or has not done, that's fine. Just make sure you do it in a respectful way, and you tell only the truth.
As for the war, that ALSO depends on how the protesting is done. If you say you disagree with how, why, and when the war was started, that's fine. If, however, you pull a Cindy Sheehan, and call the people we're fighting "freedom fighters", I would recommend a move to France.
Cindy Sheehan is this generation's Jane Fonda.
Okay, I'm done.

Answer 3

There is a time and place for everything. We are at war. When an anti-war person protests, it is used as propaganda for our enemies. They think they can turn the public against the war like in Vietnam. It emboldens the enemies because they think they are winning.

Remember, you have a right to your opinion, but you do not have a right to have it heard.

You quote Michael Savage, who is a negative and bitter hate-mongerer. He does not represent conservatives. He does not support the war.

I do not care if you are against war, keep it to yourself. Liberals (I am not accusing you of any of this) show up at funerals and protest TOTALLY OUT OF LINE. They show up at Veteran Hospitals TOTALLY OUT OF LINE.

You will probably never understand my position. You do not understand what freedom is. You definitely do not understand what we have had to do to get it and more importantly keep it.

Answer 4

Once again, its not that you dissent, its how you dissent. When you make ridiculous accusations for the purpose of character assassination it makes you sound like an asshole.
You are correct that as an American you have the right to speak your mind in opposition to your government, but rights are meaningless without responsibility.

Answer 5

When is someone going to speak truthfully about the crisis of confidence that the "war on terror" has created in your country, everyday I read with growing amusement the rantings and ravings of both sides both republican and democrat (I refuse to call them either Neocon or Liberal) as both references degrade the individual,, your constant sniping and carping about "whose fault it is" achieves only a negative outcome for all And don't give me this bu llshit about that what makes us great, the freedom to express our differences" because at the moment your divide is growing exponentially and unless you elect someone to speak for everyone all will be for nought. Your enemy will become yourselves and to that end your perceived enemy will have achieved his objective "Divide and conquer"
Perhaps with the 5th anniversary of 911 you may again regain a sense of unity and purpose, for all of your sakes I hope so.

Source(s):

An observer from downunder

Answer 6

i do not carry contempt for everyone. really for a idea equipment. we are taught to love our friends or maybe our enemies. I positioned my neck on the line to witness to those with different beliefs. that's the different of contempt. -Christian

Answer 7

Dissent is fine as long as you don't lie and make it up as you go along as left wingers tend to do.

Answer 8

I don't think most conservatives have an issue with speaking out... and I don't think people get arrested for it.

I do think that if you make statements, pro or con, you have to be ready to take the reactions of others.

Answer 9

For the same reason hard lefties call for the assassination of President Bush and call him the terrorist. You can't judge the majority of a movement by the wackadoos on the fringe.

You might want to have this same conversation with Joe Lieberman.

Answer 10

In war the first casualty is the truth.

They are scared.

Conservatives are enemies of democracy, dissent is allowing all voices, they seek to embrace docrtine over fact.

Conservatives preserve age old traditions of propaganda and control of government in the hands of the few rather than the People (the masses).