Is it unpatriotic to dissent by expression the actions, actual & contemplated, of the political party in pwr?

Question

I have seen all who dissent , liberals and conservatives, pilloried for publicly expressing their dissent opposing the war in Iraq. Why? And is this good for the future of this democratic Nation- the US-- which must depend on freedom of speech to get to the truths and the lies in order to make good choices and decisions--individually and collectively?

Answer 1

In America a patriot is one who honors the Constitution and Bill of Rights. Considering the fact that most of our gov't officials do not abide by either the spirit or the actual content of these documents, it is unpatriotic not to dissent.

Answer 2

Freedom of Speech is for everyone.

They have the right to speak up against the war.

Others have the right to speak up against those against the war.

Freedom of speech goes both ways. Why do you assume a monopoly on truth belongs to the first group?

Change it around:

"s it unpatriotic to dissent by expression the actions, actual & contemplated, of the political party in not in power?

I have seen all who dissent , conservatives and liberals, pilloried for publicly expressing their disagreement with those who are opposing the war in Iraq. Why? And is this good for the future of this democratic Nation- the US-- which must depend on freedom of speech to get to the truths and the lies in order to make good choices and decisions--individually and collectively?"

Freedom of speech is for everyone.

Edit from Email received from Question Poster:

From: heeltap

Subject: Your A to my Q regarding dissent

Message: ?To dissent with the party in power is different from dissent withhe minority party. To reverse the Q as you did is not to answer the Q I asked. I think you are ether naive or are unwilling to answer the Q as I asked it while expending 5 pts

I emailed back with a confused message (I mistook him for another poster, then apologized and told him I'd come back and clarify).

It is true. It is not the same. But in this case, it is essential that we remember that they still have free speech.

It is NOT unpatriotic to dissent the goals/etc. of the party in power.

It is foolish if that is your goal (to dissent the policies, goals, etc. of the party in power).

To deliberately target a whole party is political bigotry, not dissent for the sake of the nation. It is aimed at hurting a party, thwarting them as if they were the enemy, not fighting for individual goals that may incidentally differ from the goals of the party in power. We saw that when President Clinton was our President, and now again with President Bush.

It is not unpatriotic to dissent, disagree, or protest an individual goal, policy, or statement.

It is unpatriotic to slander, libel, act seditiously, spread unfounded rumors, name-call, or treat as "guilty until proved innocent" our representatives.

Clearer?

Answer 3

"... God forbid we should ever be twenty years without such a rebellion. The people cannot be all, and always, well informed. The part which is wrong will be discontented, in proportion to the importance of the facts they misconceive. If they remain quiet under such misconceptions, it is lethargy, the forerunner of death to the public liberty.... And what country can preserve its liberties, if it's rulers are not warned from time to time, that this people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to the facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time, with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is its natural manure."
Thomas Jefferson, Letter to William S. Smith, 13 November 1787

"We, the people are the rightful masters of both Congress and the courts, not to overthrow the Constitution, but to overthrow men who pervert the Constitution." Abraham Lincoln

"It is necessary for every American, with becoming energy to endeavor to stop the dissemination of principles evidently destructive of the cause for which they have bled. It must be the combined virtue of the rulers and of the people to do this, and to rescue and save their civil and religious rights from the outstretched arm of tyranny, which may appear under any mode or form of government."
Mercy Warren, History of the Rise, Progress, and Termination of the American Revolution, 1805

"The spirit of resistance to government is so valuable on certain occasions that I wish it to be always kept alive. It will often be exercised when wrong, but better so than not to be exercised at all."
Thomas Jefferson, Letter to Abigail Adams, 2 February 1787

"Here in America we are descended in blood and in spirit from revolutionaries and rebels - men and women who dared to dissent from accepted doctrine. As their heirs, may we never confuse honest dissent with disloyal subversion."
Dwight Eisenhower, Speech at Columbia University Bicentennial Dinner, 31 May 1954

Answer 4

being patriotic is loving your country and loving the meaning of our flag. not loving our president... Bush is an average joe who is out of his league, but yes the dissent IS good for our country, because it makesthe voters look closer at whats going on in the campaign, instead of just straight line voting

Answer 5

Unfortunately the Americans are fed a lot of lies, by their own Government, and the Governments total control over the media. How can they make good choices?

Answer 6

You are dissenting President Bush and the war, I am dissenting you. You could say that I am dissenting the dissenter.

Answer 7

I find it interesting that when neo-cons were all over the Clinton administration, I never heard anyone say "America, love it or leave it." But I guess that's the fallback position of the neo-cons.

Answer 8

I don't see anyone blocking these fools from posting. Their right to free speech is not being jepordized. Why do you seek to silence the people who disagrre with them? Do you feel it is OK to take the rights away from those who disagree with you? Especialy now where the polls show that they are the minority. Is it not you now who is the drone?

Answer 9

NEVER EVER CHALLENGE A DEMOCRAT. IT CAN BE DANGEROUS. FREE SPEECH IS FOR THOSE THAT AGREE THAT IS WHY WE WILL SHUT DOWN TALK RADIO WITH THE FAIRNESS DOCTRINE

Answer 10

SOME GET KILLED LIKE TILLMAN DID, THREE SHOTS TO THE FOREHEAD AT CLOSE RANGE, BUT NO TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION. ITS UN AMERICAN TO NOT SPEAK UP