Is denouncing everyone as "unpatriotic" still an effective way of suppressing dissent?

Question

. . . or has its effectiveness worn off, and the perpetrators of this foolishness been exposed as the TRUE unpatriots?

ROFL -- toocan. you're killing me.

you sarcastic son-of-a-*****. i hope they delete your @ss. good answer!!

Answer 1

thinking only emboldens the terrorists. participating in candid debate as citizens in a constitutional representative democracy with three co-equal branches of government only serves to validate the al-quida strategy.

Answer 2

I'm sure being called "unpatriotic" makes people uncomfortable and perhaps not want to speak up. The creditability of the people doing this attacks keeps going down so these charges don't have quite the same weight. It is quite distasteful how politicials like to wrap themselves in the flag but hey it works.

Answer 3

It was never as effective as throwing about the racist term.
Most people don't want to be considered racist. But, it appears that a lot of Americans believe that their country is a horrible place that deserves to be "put in it's place".
They are proud to be called unpatriotic.
I've traveled quite a bit and have had a chance to observe some of these supposedly "superior" countries.
People who advocate the "defeat" of their own country might not be happy to wake up in the results.
I for one hope it does not come to pass.

Answer 4

I retired from the military with over 27 years of service to my country doing my part to keep us free and support our way of life; the Constitution and our bill of rights and all the other PATRIOTIC things! I have my opinion about politics, immigration, the gays, gas prices and some late night movies - some would say I my opinions are unpatriotic! I, on the other hand, would say that is part of what I spent my 26 years for; the right to say what I want and voice my opinion. It has become a political thing to challenge a persons patriotic standard if you do not agree with others. That is hog-wash; patriotism has nothing to do with immigration, supporting bad government actions, or voicing your opinion. Those who take issue of our right to free speech, choice of religion, criticizing bad government, or whatever are the ones who are not patriotic just as those who would force their beliefs on others and expect us to accept their way of life!

Answer 5

The only effective way of actually suppressing dissent is governmental persecution (imprisonment, exile, execution, torture, etc.). Denouncing someone as "unpatriotic" is merely a way of suppressing wimps. If you believe you've ever been "suppressed" because someone has called you names -- man, you don't know the first thing about suppression. Remember, the person calling someone "unpatriotic" has his First Amendment rights, too.

Answer 6

it started out that they called any dissenters "terrorists" & it's now moved to "unpatiotic" because even conservatives know that Bush's Iraq war is a disaster that can't be won but they feel that "unpatiotic" will show that any dissenter isn't supporting the troops & they'll continue to use it until Bush has safely left office in 2009 w/o having to admit defeat in Iraq which he'll hand over to the next Dem President to take the blame for the loss.

Answer 7

It's similar to calling someone an "anti-semitic" -- the Israeli government has been so evil, no one is scared to criticize them anymore.

True Patriots are not afraid of expressing dissent before the most arch-evil Anti-American neoconservative. Just look Neocons in the eye and say, "I expected you to say that!" They're stunned silent and you can rattle on about the truth until they are blue in the face.

Answer 8

In a nation of increasing ignorance, unfortunately empty name calling is often effective (see "racist" for someone that wants controlled and legal immigration only). I'm not sure this is empty name calling though and I don't think it was ever effective in "suppressing" what you call "dissent." Is it an accurate description for many so-called "dissenters?"
When someone wants their own country to lose a war and is glad to see it's own soldiers dying in that war in hopes of benefitting politically, what do you call that? Kind of sounds like the opposite of a patriot.

patriot - One who loves his or her country and supports it's authority and interests.

Answer 9

Whether it is effective or not, it is a fact. There are a lot of unpatriotic people in the US. They don't appreciate how lucky they are to live here, and the sacrifices other made on their behalf. What they call "dissent" is not productive but meant to destroy our institutions.

Answer 10

It is wild to remember how oppressive the 'superpatriots' were only a few years ago. Record and book burnings, driving into crowds of protesters, agreeing to spy on neighbors for the gov., approving of torture. Oh, wait, they're still doing that.

Anyway, no, Lincoln was right. You can not fool all the people all the time.

Answer 11

There's no way it's as effective as screaming "Racism!"

Frankly, I can't believe any dissent is being suppressed.

All I see and hear is dissent.

I could go for some suppression.