In a democratic society wherein free speech is valued, is it actually patriotic to dissent?

Question

Give reasons for your answer either way.

Thanks for the well thought out answers so far. By the way, this question is a general question. It's not solely directed towards Americans, so people from other democratic countries, feel free to share your views too. :-)

Answer 1

Not only is it our right but it is our responsibility to question authority at every point.

Those who follow blindly end up with another Hilter.

Now come Repubs, since you've got your "baby Hilter" in office don't you think it's time to wake up?

Answer 2

If dissent weren't allowed, there would be no free speech. Dissent from absolute power is why we had a Revolutionary War. It's why we question the gov't when we begin to see that something is not right. It's why we elect new politicians every so often. It's why we fought a civil war. SIt's why we have laws that get removed or changed. It's so much more. It's why we are a free people, for the moment anyway.

Answer 3

There will always be dissent in America. When the lefties get too crazy the right rises up, and vise versa. It keeps us balanced. Dissent is a good thing. Giving aid and comfort to the enemy however is not. The left has come very close, if not crossing the line too many times in this regard. So protest all you want, but be truthful, have honest facts, and think before you speak.

Answer 4

Yes.

The United States Constitution - Bill of Rights makes it our basic right.

However, you need to know about both sides of an issue before you can make up your mind to dissent and be sure that it is meaningful.

Dissenting just to dissent is meaningless.

Though through out history many people who dissent were unjustly punished for dissenting, even in a country where it is our right.

Some people are still labeled communist because they disagree with the status quo on some issues. (i.e. Pete Seeger). To me that makes him a hero. Some of the people who label them do not understand our right to dissent.

It is always easier not to speak up. (I write but I seldom speak up.)

Society may want everything to go the easiest way - like people to all agree with the government's actions - but that does not happen.

Answer 5

Free speech doesn't mean that you should try to support or destroy the government just because you don't have the facts. The problem we have here is people confuse freedom of speech with Patriotism.

We are all free to be dumd ***.es but We should not speak out against the government just because we disagree.

I know that doesn't make sense, but my point is before one speaks consider all the facts not just the ones twisted towards your ignorance.

Along with the freedom comes the responsibility. That is what people here seem to forget.........

Answer 6

Dissent is a good thing because it allows decisions to be questioned and debated.

Answer 7

One would think so, especially if the speech is intended to support the principles of the society against individuals trampling those principles.

Sadly, too many people equate patriotism with blind loyalty, and expect nothing more than a nation of lemmings.

Answer 8

It is patriotic to express your viewpoint whether pro or con.

"A nation, as a society, forms a moral person, and every member of it is personally responsible for his society." --Thomas Jefferson to George Hammond, 1792

"Whenever our affairs go obviously wrong, the good sense of the people will interpose and set them to rights." --Thomas Jefferson to David Humphreys, 1789

"The force of public opinion cannot be resisted when permitted freely to be expressed. The agitation it produces must be submitted to." --Thomas Jefferson to Lafayette, 1823

Answer 9

IT IS NOT THE FUNCTION OF OUR GOVERNMENT TO KEEP CITIZENS FROM FALLING INTO ERROR;
IT IS THE DUTY OF THE CITIZENS TO KEEP THE GOVERNMENT FROM FALLING INTO ERROR!

Thomas Jefferson said something to the effect that .If citizens don't watch the president & Congress each and every time they conduct business without a disinterested party monitoring that meeting , just one time, that they would take advantage of that opportunity to enact something good for themselves. But not good for the people!

Answer 10

Yes. Dissension makes you think about why you agree or disagree with the leadership. Without that, you just follow blindly. Just because the President says so, doesn't mean he's right.

Answer 11

loose speech and Freedom of the click is truly mandatory to a loose society - yet they could be loose no longer basically from the authorities, yet as well loose from the tyranny of businesses, together with collusion with employer interests and diverse profiteering interests.