A famous American is the one who said "dissent is the highest form of patriotism". Why have we strayed so far from our leaders original goals for our country?
2007-07-08 05:48:04 · 14 answers · asked by rip_2_4_u 4 in Politics & Government ➔ Other - Politics & Government
"Difference of opinion leads to enquiry, and enquiry to truth; and that, I am sure, is the ultimate and sincere object of us both. We both value too much the freedom of opinion sanctioned by our Constitution, not to cherish its exercise even where in opposition to ourselves." --Thomas Jefferson to P. H. Wendover, 1815. ME 14:283
"Men, according to their constitutions and the circumstances in which they are placed, differ honestly in opinion. Some are whigs, liberals, democrats, call them what you please. Others are tories, serviles, aristocrats, etc." --Thomas Jefferson to William Short, 1825. ME 16:96
"In every country where man is free to think and to speak, differences of opinion will arise from difference of perception, and the imperfection of reason; but these differences when permitted, as in this happy country, to purify themselves by free discussion, are but as passing clouds overspreading our land transiently and leaving our horizon more bright and serene." -Thomas Jefferson
2007-07-08 06:19:44 · update #1
I think the following quote sums it up:
"We must not confuse dissent with disloyalty. When the loyal opposition dies, I think the soul of America dies with it." -Edward R. Murrow
2007-07-08 05:51:49 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 9⤊ 0⤋
Goggle the phrase "Dissent is the highest form of patriotism" along with the name "Thomas Jefferson" and you will find thousands of Web pages attributing the sentiment to the third president of the United States. The trouble is, notes reader Dave Forsmark, who has been waging a one-man campaign to correct what he believes to be a blatant misattribution, "the quote is about two years old, not 200. It was made by [historian] Howard Zinn in an interview with TomPaine.com to justify his opposition to the War on Terror." Someone erroneously attributed the quote to Jefferson soon after, and now seemingly everyone is doing it.
Some say if Thomas Jefferson had not said it, he would agree with it today. Yes he would because he was the one who worte Declaration of Independence a decent against the British Empire, and he was patriot for us. :)
If the Red coats had won the war of Independence He along with George and all other leaders who signed the the declaration, would have been hung and lynched.
Decent is the highest form of Treason :)
2007-07-08 13:15:04 · answer #2 · answered by Thomas B 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
No, dissent is not the highest form of patriotism. Dissent is not patriotism at all. True patriotism means believing absolutely in your government and your country, and trusting their decisions and their policies. Just look at all the hardcore republicans here on Yahoo Answers, the people who trust Bush completely and believe that he is truly always 100% right. Those are the true patriots.
Now, one thing: Don't get mixed up between patriotism and good things like intelligence and morality! Patriotism is ALREADY a flawed way of thinking, and no amount of dissent OR unification can change that. A country is an inconstant, changing thing; the United States as it is now is not necessarily the same as the United States as it was a few decades ago. No truly rational person would ever fight for the sole purpose of defending something like a country, which can turn around and screw them over a moment later. No, what a rational person defends is their philosophy, their worldview. These things do NOT change over time, and no matter how orwellian the world gets, they will still be there, just as good or evil as they always were. Philosophies are special, governments and areas of land are not.
2007-07-08 13:07:08 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 6⤋
Notice how the cons are nitpicking over the "Jefferson quote" issue? It ties in with why they call those who dissent traitors. It comes from avoiding a direct answer because they have either a weak argument, or no argument at all.
2007-07-08 13:24:20 · answer #4 · answered by fake_cowboy 4 · 2⤊ 2⤋
This is NOT a quote from Jefferson, it's a quote made by Howard Zinn in 2002.
I'm not sure I'd call Howard Zinn famous, nor would I believe that he was one of the people who established the "original goals" of the country.
But here is a quote from Jefferson:
"Political dissension is doubtless a less evil than the lethargy of despotism: but still it is a great evil, and it would be as worthy the efforts of the patriot as of the philosopher, to exclude it's influence if possible, from social life."
But thanks for playing.
2007-07-08 12:58:41 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 3⤋
Thank God the men you have quoted, saw fit to insure our right to debate, argue, and discuss our points of view! The basis of the separation between western democracy, and eastern totalitarianism!
2007-07-08 13:38:59 · answer #6 · answered by Paully S 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel!!
2007-07-09 07:45:27 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just because somebody says it and it sounds good doesn't make it true for one. Secondly, some dissent might be good but just because one is dissenting it doesn't make him/her patriotic. After all you could dissent against the laws that protect children from perdators, would that make one patriotic.
2007-07-08 12:54:04 · answer #8 · answered by scarlettt_ohara 6 · 2⤊ 4⤋
Chinese and Iranian Dessenters are turning against unfair and oppresive regimes, very different from america. And i want to say get your facts straight cause the quote "dissent is the highest form of patriotism" was not said by an american patriot. google it and tell me what you find. thank you.
2007-07-08 12:57:35 · answer #9 · answered by stewcat123 1 · 2⤊ 5⤋
Kindly remember this the next time a Democrat is in the White House. Seems like a lot of the Left was slinging the term traitor around a lot during the Clinton years.
2007-07-08 12:51:45 · answer #10 · answered by TheOnlyBeldin 7 · 2⤊ 7⤋