Why do so many people think that it's wrong to speak out against your country?

Question

So many people feel that it is necessary to follow and support your country, no matter what the circumstances. What troubles me is that part of being a citizen is publically speaking out about the government. If free speach was created in a way that allowed us to question the government, then why do so many people think it is so wrong?

Answer 1

You have every right to speak out against your country but you have to understand that other people have the right to disagree with your opinion.

Answer 2

I forget who said that patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel, but it is obviously true. George Bush won a dubious election, and was obviously not going to be accepted as President after the obviously unfair election. After 9/11 he wrapped himself in the Stars and Stripes and sang the national anthem at the top of his lungs.

While most foreign onlookers seem to feel that the Bush presidency has been a failure, with an unwinnable war and a spiralling deficit, they do not understand that the Republican agenda was not about conservatism but about corporate control of the world economy. By removing many of the checks and balances from the way Congress does business, the Republicans have smoothed the way for a complete takeover of the American democracy by selfish business interests.

When your country is being treasonably undermined by a special interest group whose interests are not those of the electorate it is your duty to speak out. You will be called a liberal, as if that was a crime. You will be called a socialist or worse by people who have no understanding of the word. Speak out anyway.

The man who denies another free speech is a tyrant. The man who attacks another for speaking is a very bad American indeed.

Answer 3

Most want to equate country and the central government of that country the same. Every country in the world are generally good, true some live under adverse conditions mainly brought on by their central government.

It is not the country one should speak out against but the central government who in every case is crooked to some degree. The Central government of a country starts wars, represses the general population who just want to live. But the central government of almost every country is controlled by the power elite for their own gain. Study the shadow government of the USA and you will know what I mean.

Answer 4

If people don't have the right to criticize the government, then we become like people who live in dictatorships or communism or facism...

But what you must understand is that "yank" bashing or anti-American sentiment is so high all around the world...it makes people DEFENSIVE....it is a part of human nature - when attacked, a human defends...this is why some people get so angry about it now - about criticism of the government.

Other people have served in the military or have military families (like my own paternal side) and it rankles like a personal slight....

What bothers me is that the criticism is so partisan...when former President Clinton was in office it was anti-Democrat, now that President Bush is in office it is anti-Republican...

And some criticism is not even coherent. I remember people calling Clinton "slick willie" and such and now they call Bush "dummy"...it is so stupid.

The "attacks" should be issue based, with logical reasoning, from any side, not just "i don't like you because you are not in my party or viewpoint".

I don't think people should be boycotted for their viewpoints either, although they should be careful of what they say and make sure it isn't just hateful.

I have lots of friends from Eastern Europe, Cuba, Vietnam, Iran, Iraq, and who lived under Nazi Germany (older people, admittedly), etc.

Believe me, no one here wants to live where you can't say anything about the government, where they punish you for it.

Oh well...

God bless

Answer 5

I don't think it's wrong to speak out agaisnt your country, but at the same time you should show respect for the flag. And people should support the military. As to the war in Iraq, I hate it.

Answer 6

Most are afraid to look as though there not being supportive off there country because they disagree! I E i think we are fighting a bs war but i dont hate bush i think he is funny but isnt a good president!!!!

Answer 7

I don't believe that criticizing one's own country is necessarily unpatriotic. Constructive criticism is sometimes necessary, as a matter of fact, and that's one reason why the First Amendment is such a great thing. Also, I have to say that I am proud to be an American and that I love my country, but I certainly don't like all of its policies, and I don't mind saying so!

Answer 8

I personally do not speak out against my country, I speak out against the govenment of my country. There is a difference. As a US citizen it is not only my right to ask questions of power and speak out when the answers are not acceptable, but it is also my responsibility.

Those that criticize me for doing this, including members of the current administration have a very poor understanding of this nation's constitution and of the meaning of citizenship.

Answer 9

They don’t honestly think it is wrong (I hope). They are only trying to stifle dissent and end debate. It’s a tactic used to try to silence the opposition. For example, accusing individuals of treason or of being traitors is a heavy-handed and somewhat vicious way of just telling dissenters not to speak out and trying to dissuade them from expressing their opinions.

Answer 10

It's not speaking out against the country they object to. It's speaking out against the things they believe.