"To announce that there must be no criticism of the president, or that we are to stand by the president right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public." --Theodore Roosevelt
All coments welcome...insults not welcome...but oh well bring em on too...
2006-09-10 17:49:17 · 24 answers · asked by Evel Man 3 in Politics & Government ➔ Government
The day we cannot question our public officials, or demand that they be held accountable for their actions, is the day we cross into fascism.
Questioning our elected officials is not only our right, but where those officials have admitted to criminal actions, it is our obligation.
2006-09-10 17:53:29 · answer #1 · answered by coragryph 7 · 4⤊ 1⤋
In the political environment that exists today where people are labeled unAmerican for criticizing actions of the President that they believe are wrong, I believe it is VERY relevant. When you read the quote in its entirety, it is even more powerful. It is part of an editorial.Roosevelt wrote for the Kansas City Star during World War I. .
"The President is merely the most important among a large number of public servants. He should be supported or opposed exactly to the degree which is warranted by his good conduct or bad conduct, his efficiency or inefficiency in rendering loyal, able, and disinterested service to the Nation as a whole. Therefore it is absolutely necessary that there should be full liberty to tell the truth about his acts, and this means that it is exactly necessary to blame him when he does wrong as to praise him when he does right. Any other attitude in an American citizen is both base and servile. To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public. Nothing but the truth should be spoken about him or any one else. But it is even more important to tell the truth, pleasant or unpleasant, about him than about any one else."
"Roosevelt in the Kansas City Star", 149
May 7, 1918
2006-09-10 18:08:07 · answer #2 · answered by Grammy 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I think it's relevant and I agree.
It goes with the whole freedom of speech thing. I think it is relevant to the times because it seems more and more people don't like the president- or what he is doing now, and the government is trying to get more and more control over this country. I think that quote is something people should be made aware of and understand that they do have a right not to like the president/government when they f(*& up.
Good question!
2006-09-10 17:53:53 · answer #3 · answered by snshnbtrflis 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If the President of the United States is ELECTED By The People, and has a Mandate to Serve The People, then (s)he needs to know how they are doing. Since there is No Such Thing as a Perfect American, (s)he needs to ACCEPT criticism as Part Of The Job.
Short Answer: a BIG "Yes!"
2006-09-10 17:56:13 · answer #4 · answered by blktiger@pacbell.net 6 · 3⤊ 1⤋
seems like Teddy Roosevelt was a bit of a psychic who could channel into the future...flash forward to the present, and a president who disdains criticism, constructive or otherwise, and who infers that if we do not stand by him we are "agin" him , and therefore are unpatriotic, I think it is a very relevant quote and clearly is ageless and apropo to the current administration...thank you for a great question..
2006-09-10 17:56:04 · answer #5 · answered by Marvin C 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I agree, Roosevelt knew his stuff. He's right, you can't stand by the president 100% of the time on everything, you've got to tell him when he's messing up, it's our duty as American citizens!! We cannot just sit by, and let our president make bad choices, it IS unpatirotic... that and by telling us we can't would be taking away our right to freedom of speech. I like this quote. I like this question... thanks for posting it!
2006-09-10 17:54:44 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I agree. It's not a crime to disagree with the President or any other politician for that matter. Just don't ever make any threats..even in jest.
2006-09-10 17:56:43 · answer #7 · answered by Duckjuice3 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I completely agree! The president is only a human being; he has faults and folibles just like everyone else, and makes mistakes as well. The only problem is that the President's mistakes are somewhat larger than everyone else's...
2006-09-10 17:53:35 · answer #8 · answered by Crystal L ™ 2 · 3⤊ 1⤋
I agree with the quote, but old Teddy was knee deep in all sorts of horse$hit himeself. I guess he was just more of a man or did less evil than BushCo, Inc.
2006-09-10 18:25:13 · answer #9 · answered by InternetPosterChild 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Of course I agree..
If he cannot be criticized, he would not be a president but a king...
2006-09-10 21:57:01 · answer #10 · answered by oldmarketeer 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋