What is your opinion of the infamous line, "Dissent is the highest form of patriotism"?

Question

Oh, I am well aware that Jefferson apparently didn't say this, and that, according to the Jefferson Library, he likely never would have:

"Dissent is the highest form of patriotism."
We see this one fairly frequently. We are not sure where it originated, although some speculate that Howard Zinn introduced it as recently as 2002 (see http://urbanlegends.about.com/b/a/146858.htm). As evidence that Jefferson probably would not have expressed such a sentiment, we offer the following (genuine) quote:

"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. The good are rare enough at best. There is no reason to subdivide them by artificial lines. But whether we shall ever be able so far to perfect the principles of society as that political opinions shall, in it's intercourse, be as inoffensive as those of philosophy, mechanics, or any other, may well be doubted." TJ to Thomas Pinckney, 29 May 1797

I just wanted to get the question of quote attribution out of the way. Whether Jefferson, Howard Zinn, or someone else said it, or something like it, is another subject.

Sorry, I forgot the source link. http://www.monticello.org/library/reference/spurious.html

Answer 1

It appears from the research that the quote in the form shown belongs to Howard Zinn, a contemporary American historian, not Thomas Jefferson.

And Zinn is absolutely right!

The right to dissent against the policies of the government is enshrined in the U.S. Constitution's Bill of Rights. The principle was used to profound historic effect by the colonists, who protested the policies and laws being imposed on them by the tyrant King George III. The result was the rejection of despotism in favor of freedom and the establishment of a system of governance that derived its powers from the consent of the governed.

If the ability to dissent was appropriate for the colonists to exercise 230 years ago, it is appropriate today. Indeed, a free people have, in some respects, a particular obligation to protest the policies of their government at a time when the majority are uncritically accepting of those policies. It is at such moments that the principle is put to its greatest test, and when the need to exercise it is most urgent.

A government that cannot tolerate dissent from its people is a government that is not worthy of the trust of its people.

Answer 2

I don't know about the superlative aspect, but there are times, such as those we are now experiencing, where dissent could be construed as a more patriotic act than acquiescence. It sure isn't the easy way. You get called all kinds of things if you believe that the course the country is presently pursuing is bad for the country and actually have the audacity to say so.

As the Clash sez in Know Your Rights, you have the right to free speech, as long as you don't actually try it.

Later: Did I just get slapped? Follower I am not. You don't know me very well and shouldn't presume.

Answer 3

When everyone in the room thinks the same way as the leader, you don't need them. Dissent opens discussion; makes the other viewpoints get heard; aids in the final decision making process.

However, when a decision is made, as a whole you must support it even while seeking to overturn it. As an example, a judge may disagree with Roe vs Wade but he must rule according to the law.

Answer 4

My opinion is that is the most true phrase or definition of what being a patriot is. It reminds me of Thoreau's Civil Disobedience.

I think, as citizens of the USA, that we have a duty to question... a duty to stand up against 'the system' when that system is destroying what it means to be an American.

Answer 5

An excuse to bash your country.
And even if someone in our country's history said it or Churchill or Gandhi, that doesn't make it a fact. I'll never understand why people jump on that bandwagon and say well, so-and-so said it, so that makes it a fact.

Well, if the Clash said it, it must be true. lol, thanks for making my point. People who say if you're not dissenting, you're just following are usually the same people who allow historical figures and rock groups to speak for them. They're following a trend and just repeating what they've heard.

Answer 6

a statement overused, taken way out of context and not considering the stunting and grandstanding of liberal extremists today. for example, unilateral surrender is NOT patriotism, its pure naked cowardice and does nothing to support this country or its military DESPITE what the pelosi/reid regime would tell you.

Answer 7

It certainly wasn't spoken by a patriot.