Do you think it's unpatriotic to speak out against our government's policies?

Question

If so why? It has become almost a coined phrase that "you're either with us or against us" if you speak out, does this worry anyone else?

Answer 1

Its patriotic to speak out the truth about government .That is the foundation of liberty and free speech .Thomas Jefferson said .When you are afraid of government there is tyranny .When government is afraid of you there is liberty .You can plainly see what we have in America

Answer 2

Obviously it is not unpatriotic to speak out against your government, in fact, the whole purpose of government is to foster political discourse.

Secondly, yes, 9-11 did cause a backlash against "speaking out", but just like McCarthyism, it does not take long for people to realize the dangers of self-imposed silence.

To elaborate, I do not think it was anywhere close to as bad as during the immediate aftermath of the 911 tragedy. Now, the "with us or against us" mentality is nothing but a meaningless tag line that the uneducated have adopted as a fail safe mantra.

Answer 3

Everyone has a right to be able to speak out against our governments policies. It is not a right for others to have to agree with you. The "coined phrase" is the right of others to express to you. I would be worried if the freedom/right we have to express ourselves was taken away.

Answer 4

It would depend on what they are speaking out against exactly.

To oppose the war in Iraq however is not unpatriotic on the face of it, but there are people that go to traitorous extremes in what they say and do even on that question.
One does not have to like Bush either, or speak well of him, to be a patriot.

Answer 5

To claim that speaking against government policies is unpatriotic is fundamentally treasonous to the entire America system, the US is not the Soviet Union.

Answer 6

Just the opposite. In a democracy it is the responsibility of the citizens to keep watch on those who represent us and keep them doing what we want not as they please. Democracy thrives on dissent and difference of opinion. Totalitarianism thrives on total agreement with the government. It is those who favor a Fascist regime or other totalitarian government who would think that it is unpatriotic to speak out against the government's policies.

http://www.bushwatch.com/fascism.htm

Answer 7

Mark Twain said it best:"Patriotism is supporting your country at all times, and your government when it deservesit."

TThose who try to use accusations that someone is "unpatriotic" as a means of sinlencing dissent do so only because they know their actions won't stand sccrutiny.

The only proper answer to those who say "you're either with us or against us" is "Fine--I'm against you."

Answer 8

First president to refuse to take calls from the CIA and his safe practices pointers on a usual foundation. First president to expose an absolute disinterest in being president. First president to have his mom-in-regulation living fullyyt off the taxpayer dime interior our WH.

Answer 9

We are living in a new age:
Divisiveness is unity. Unity divides.
Issues that appear to be divisive, are actually uniting.
Issues that appear to unite, are actually divisive.
"With us" means to be against us.
"Against us" means to be with us.
We all need to step back.
Take a deep breath.
And read, study and comprehend the history of the world
starting at 1929 Germany onward Christian soldiers
up thru Munich 1930 and Berlin and well, you get the point.

Then we might have some idea of what's happening now.
Hmmmmmmmmmm?

Answer 10

That's a phrase designed to keep those of us who are informed, quiet. I think it is our DUTY to speak out when we see things going wrong. Isn't that why we were given the right to free speech?