Why is it un-American to exercise your First Amendment rights?

Question

Check out the Yahoo Answers’ political section on any given day and you’ll find question after question and answer after answer accusing liberals of being un-American and hating America. To criticize the president because one disagrees with his policies is anything but unpatriotic. As our forefathers pointed out, political discourse is the backbone of democracy. Even Teddy Roosevelt, a Republican president proclaimed:

“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.”

Conservatives will vigorously fight to defend the Second Amendment, even to their deaths. Yet they ridicule and mock any citizen who exercises the rights guaranteed by the First Amendment. Isn’t this the ultimate hypocrisy?

Answer 1

Very good point. Personally, I think it's incredibly tasteless to accuse someone of treason simply because they don't agree with your point of view. We have to accept that all of us want what is best for this country. We just have different ideas about what that means. Neither political party is trying to destroy America. We'll all get along a lot better if we stop slinging arrows at one another and try to learn to compromise.

Answer 2

This is funny becasue the excate same thing was said about cons when Clinton was in office. Do not take offense to it. People who say such things are just frustrated. Depending on which party is in office the other parties extreme will always have the opposite opinion regardless of the reality of the debate. If you where against Clinton in the 90's you where labled un-American by libs. Role was reversed with Regan in office. The view is always different from the top.

Answer 3

The first Amendment I think covers the right to mock and make fun of liberals. Isn't this what is bothering you, the smartest guy in the room. It doesn't bother us that you call us racist names like redneck, hillbilly, nazi and the such. Liberals really have some thin skin. Thank you for pointing out that you are a dim bulb in a sea of dim wits. Quit crying over your hurt little feelings and argue your case like an adult.

Answer 4

First off, using you first amendment right doesn't make you un-American, what you say under that right could be considered un-American. I'm not going to comment whether what a liberal, or republican says is un-American, I play into that argument. I will say this.

If you use your first amendment right to call an African American the 'N' word are you racist? Yes, because of your comment not the fact that you used your first amendment right. If a liberal makes a comment, he might be un-American because he made an un-American statement, not because you used your first amendment right,

Answer 5

It's no more hypocritical than those on the other side of the aisle who beat the drum of freedom of speech and freedom of press but criticize religious people and want guns outlawed.

How about fighting to protect ALL of our constitutional rights? Speak freely, practice your religion and legally own a gun. They are all stated in that very important document. Each is equally important.

Answer 6

Very well put. Yes, it's hypocritical to blindly follow someone that was elected by falable people.

Don't you wish, and not just because of this incarnation of the president, that there had to be some ethics/intelligence test that should be given prior to even showing up on the ballot.

Answer 7

You don't get to cry "foul!" when a republican criticizes a liberal. That works both ways and you know it. I've been told I can't support the war effort because I'm not fighting in it. Wouldn't that infringe on my right to support our country. Don't whine, make your point, defend your politics and accept this forum for what it is.

Answer 8

There are some extremists who ascribe to the following from one of their idols:

Hermann Goering, second in command of the Third Reich and key founder of the Nazi party, said; “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 and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism, and exposing the country to greater danger”.

Some more quotes from distinguished people who ought to know:


The price of freedom is eternal vigilance.
Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826)

Edward Abbey, Patriotism quotes:
A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government.

Declaration of Independence, Patriotism quotes:
But, when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object, evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security.

Dwight D. Eisenhower, Patriotism quotes:
Here in America we are descended in spirit from revolutionaries and rebels -- men and women who dare to dissent from accepted doctrine.

Answer 9

Argumentum ad logicam.

I also have 1st amendment rights.

Those rights include the right to mock others who are themselves exercising their 1st amendment rights.

Do your 1st amendment rights trump mine?

Who's the hypocrite?

Answer 10

Because politicos can't handle the truth about themselves.