Dissent right or wrong?

Question

It occurs to me that there is alot scabbling between Europeans and Americans here. It seems that Americans believe us to be the enemy just as much as any Middle Eastern country because we voice our dissent every now and again, what say you the good people of the world!
Also before you start the inevitable bashing of me, I do not hate America, I holiday there I love the people I love the country, I think your troops are very brave but I think your ideology, diplomacy and politics in general are so miss guided right wing and wrong that it is you who are going to lead us in Nuclear war

Answer 1

Dissent is right. However, dissent should not be confused with disloyalty as they are not the same things. What cannot be denied is that dissent is a right. It's yours and it's mine, it's the right and responsibility of every responsible citizen of every democratic nation to be the balances and checks against our governments when they step out of line.

Answer 2

I'm an American, and this country was founded by people who believed strongly in the right to dissent. There are some misguided Americans whose belief is so shakey that they feel threatened if someone doesn't agree with them, and those are the ones you're thinking of. Those people don't get it. Dissent IS patriotism!
And by the way, I agree with your fear about the current politics of America being the most dangerous factor in possible nuclear confrontation.

Answer 3

Dissent is allowed and encouraged by those who do not fear it. Noone that I have heard has said anything unkind about Europeans, though there were a few off hand remarks about France. Nothing serious. I think our government is trying to make long term peace with the Iraq and middle east conflicts. North Korea is just taking advantage of the fact that our forces are deployed elsewhere. Nuclear war is a no-win situation, noone will let that happen. Not us, not Korea, and certainly noone who doesn't HAVE them, which is why we(the US) are trying so hard to keep Iran from getting them. We are not afraid of any country nuking us,we would destroy them utterly. What we fear is nukes in the hands of terrorists...people who have been supported in the past by Iran. Think this through, if some country nuked us, we would nuke back...in spades since we still have 1000's of them. But who do we nuke if a bomb is smuggleds in by terrorists? First we'd have to discover who made the bomb, then decide if we want to kill innocents by the millions to get the perpetraters.

Answer 4

There's plenty of dissent here across the pond, too. Europeans seem to have the impression that all Americans are Bush supporters - far from the truth. (I think at last count he had about a 34% approval rating.)

The problem here seems to be (to quote "A Man for All Seasons"):

"Qui tacet consentiret" (Silence gives consent)

Answer 5

I'm not quite sure who voted for Bush as all americans now seem to want nothing to do with him... but he did get re-elected.

As for the 'scabbling' .... that Freedom Fries stuff could only have gone down in the USA. Unbelievable!! ... the attack on France was way over the top .... they got it worse than Kerry did... ;-)

Answer 6

The entire free world needs to band together in strength and warlike committment against terror. If you're referring to "dissenting" from this in favor "giving peace a chance," then no way.

Answer 7

It is always right to give constructive criticisms, dissent if you want to call it that, but only if it is listened to. If the other person doesn't want to hear it then they will see you as attacking them!

Answer 8

I live here! The govt' is a very sad affair. The people? Used to love them all,but why would half of them approve of this govt's actions? I don't think many of them are very bright! :-)=

Answer 9

Dissent wrong