Why if you protest a war or any other move made by the government, mean that you are "un-american"?

Question

Are we supposed to just sit back and let our government make decisions we the people dont agree with?

Does being American now mean the citizens do not have a voice?

Answer 1

Just wait until there is a Democratic president - we'll see an abrupt turnaround with conservatives proclaiming the patriotism of dissent.

I just hope that liberals continue with their dissent, even when we have liberal leaders.

The government only works as well as we force it to, and oversight is the means of enforcement. Democracy requires protest to work.

Answer 2

Not at all.

"The price of freedom is eternal vigilance." - Thomas Jefferson

"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." - Theodore Roosevelt

They didn't put those guys' heads on Mount Rushmore for being unamerican.

Answer 3

You have the right to protest peacefully. It doesn't make you un-American. The problem I have with protesters is when they start trampling on the rights of others (property damage, violent acts, insults with those who disagree (not First Amendment) to get their point across. I used to live in San Francisco and have seen these acts up close and personal. As for the current anti-war movement, do you know who the major funders are? You probably would not support some of the groups who are supporting and organizing your protests.

Answer 4

It's the "your either with us or against us" mentality. Remember, those in government work for US, not the other way around. I remember 10 years ago, the shoe was on the other foot, but few were screaming about the other side being "un-American", just ignorant and partisan.

Answer 5

Dissent is the highest form of patriotism!
They do it besause it's a classic tactic of the far right.It's always been used in History
"Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding
of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is
tell them they are being attacked. Then, denounce the pacifists
for lack of patriotism and for exposing the country to danger."
- Herman Goering Nazi Air Force Commander
"Patriotism means to stand by the country. It does not mean to stand by the president or any other public official save exactly to the degree in which he himself stands by the country. It is patriotic to support him insofar as he efficiently serves the country. It is unpatriotic not to oppose him to the exact extent that by inefficiency or otherwise he fails in his duty to stand by the country."

- President Theodore Roosevelt, 1908
Less than one per cent of what the world spent every year on weapons was needed to put every child into school by the year 2000 and yet it didn’t happen.

Answer 6

Oh America's always boasting about how they're a "free" democratic country with the freedom of speech yada yada yada..but politicians can steal elections and you get crucified if you have an opinion, it is the American way.

Answer 7

Make sure you are protesting how you feel, not how you have been influenced to feel. Get all the facts before you formulate an opinion. Respect others opinions.

Answer 8

That's about right. According to the Republicans, if you say anything against a Republican, you are anti-American. It would be okay to say something agains a Democrat and still be American...double standard and a manipulative approach to controlling the American people and making them shut up.

Answer 9

Don't think so.
Just hi-lighting the blunders and slip-ups with human errors.
But do give them a solution too.
When they too are living human kind like you and me at loss and blurr too stranded in planet of apes.
Instead of pulling sling-shots and throwing of pots and pans at them.
Try and reach out extend them a helping hand.
They are not a man of everythings in life.
If they are Merlin all they have to do is just wave the magic wand and you can have everythings in your way in planet of apes.
If we were mummy and daddy seeing the little one in troubles.
What should we do .
Do we kick them on the butts?
Or try to console and talk it out in giving a solution to solve their misery in planet of apes.

Answer 10

Maybe 18 months ago...if you questioned the governments policies re the IRAQ WAR you were called a traitor or a coward or an Allie of terrorists.
Things have changed.
There are now republicans who won't have their picture taken with Dubya.
But now that they are done calling me traitor coward and terrorist I can now call THEM lying sacks of ****.