google_color_bg = "FFFFFF"; But the circumstances are suggestive. And it is not just academia. Please check your email inbox to confirm your message and send it to our editorial team. Encourage others also to listen to their inspiring and educational "Constitution Alive" series. google_ad_format = "120x600_as"; "Dissent is the highest form of patriotism" By Richard Fernandez 8:02 AM on November 09, 2009 ABC News reports that US Intelligence had been aware for months that Major Nidal Hasan was attempting. Because Jefferson never would have said something so idiotic. 50-50 chance that you will be remembered as the good guy. Online sexual predators target our kids learn to fight back! Entry in progressB.P. Gone are the days when strong leaders and politically differing personalities like 1980s' Speaker Tip O'Neill and President Ronald Reagan were friends and reached across the aisle in order to lead our country. Liberals claim to want to give a hearing to other views, but then are shocked and offended to discover that there are other views. Today, they do not even want to hear the possibility of opposing views. In resurrecting, reeducating and celebrating our First Amendment rights, I would encourage all Americans to again honor Religious Freedom Day this week on Saturday, Jan. 16 the anniversary date of the 1786 passage of Thomas Jeffersons Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom. http://www.tompaine.com/Archive/scontent/5908.html. The great conservative William F. Buckley once noted: Liberals claim to want to give a hearing to other views, but then are shocked and offended to discover that there are other views. Today, they do not even want to hear the possibility of opposing views. They have also justified their legal and illegal actions, from peaceful protests to breaking into and seizing buildings, destroying private property and even causing physical harm. By Charlie Lewis Broad In today's environment, Zinn might as well have told us that chocolate or masturbation was the highest form of patriotism. Last, check out their excellent interview with Jim Garlow on The Theology of Protests.). I mean patriotism in the sense of being at least as willing to live for ones country, as to die for it, at least as willing to preserve life, as to take it. For what is patriotism, if not the willingness to use our voices and our bodies to stand up for our neighbors, regardless of their race, religion, or nationality? The direct quote there is: "Dissent from public policy can be the highest form of patriotism," she said in an interview in 1965. No wonder Thomas Jefferson himself said: Dissent is the greatest form of patriotism. Loyalty to the country itself, despite being opposed to those in charge at the moment, might be. It is the peaceful American way to turn the nation away from a self-defeating course." Variations of the quote date back to the early 1900s, according to research by etymologist Barry Popik. 931 Thomas Jefferson Parkway We've all heard humorless America-haters promote themselves by announcing, As Thomas Jefferson said, "Dissent is the highest form of patriotism." The first problem with that. Our present hostile and divided culture also exacerbates a bastardization of our First Amendment rights. We will likely see hundreds of thousands of people protesting Donald Trump's presidency and his proposed policies in cities across the country. 16 September 1939, Dunkirk (NY) Evening Observer, Fullest Debate Needed, pg. Contemporary Chinese Political Economy and Strategic Relations: An International Journal (CCPS), Vol. Of course, there is the problem of enforcement. D . 2B, col. 4: They may be paid a substandard wages by unscrupulous employers. Harry Guerrilla DP Veteran Joined Dec 18, 2008 Messages 28,951 Reaction score 12,422 Location Not affiliated with other libertarians. I dont think democracy can survive without it, even though you may be crucified by it at times. According to the professors research, the misattribution was popularized in the 1990s by ACLU president Nadine Strossen. Many times the highest form of civic patriotism lies in criticising your town for all you are worth, reads one variation that appeared in The Zanesville Signal in 1925. . CNN Finally Reports on Biden Family Corruption, and Everyone Should Be Asking Why, Greta Thunberg Gets Wrecked Over 'Staged' Detention in Germany, Conservative Journalists Uncover Horrifying Story of LGBTQ Adoption and Pedophile Ring, Netflix's 'Wednesday' Is a Show That Shouldn't Work but Does, The FBI Pulls Out the Hillary Clinton Playbook in Dealing With Joe Biden's Classified Documents Scandal. It is an elitist attitude that they- and only they- know what is best or the correct course of action. As Ethan Epstein wrote in The Weekly Standard, Few if any Americans are associated with more apocryphal quotes than Thomas Jefferson, but the false notion that he said, "dissent is the highest form of patriotism" is among the easiest to dispel. Nevertheless, even Jefferson would have agreed that passionate patriotism or rebellion doesnt condone or warrant riots (violent public disorder), defaming government statues, destroying or stealing property or threatening and harming others. In 1962, the ACLU had to have a ground-game to distribute "Operation Correction." It is patriotic when a Republican is President, when a democrat is President its racist. If Dissent is the Highest Form of Patriotism, Why Are There Dissenters Against Dissent. If you missed it, you will have other opportunities in the days and months to come. Bottom line, as Barton concluded, Peaceful protests are protected by the Bill of Rights, but violent riots which destroy, loot, and victimize are antithetical to the American idea. Katie Gorka, who serves as director of the Feulner Institutes Center for Civil Society and the American Dialogue, wrote a great column in November that stated: Many young Americans seem to have a growing disdain for our country. We point fingers in judgment without any conviction of decency, civility or love. According to former Witnesses James Penton and Heather and Gary Botting, internal dissatisfaction with official doctrines continued to grow, leading to a series of secret investigations and judicial hearings . ", Even a young 16-year-old Franklin, in his Dogwood Papers, written in 1722, stated wisdom: "In those wretched countries where a man cannot call his tongue his own, he can scarce call anything his own. The interview can be found here: http://www.tompaine.com/Archive/scontent/5908.html. If dessert was the highest form of patriotism, . Dissent is the Highest Form of Patriotism - Ron Sparks Ron Sparks is a technology professional, an auhor, a poet, and a philosopher. And thinking they are true patriots, they often when not outright banning certain speech or intimidating certain speakers, revert to stating that some speech that breaks from their orthodoxy is problematic. You know they think this when they start labeling the opposing speech with the -ist suffix. 2 June 1991, Boston (MA) Globe, A new ACLU head and an old threat, pg. We vomit vitriol on social media. Indeed, intelligent, responsible dissent can represent the highest form of patriotism. The 51 State Department FSOs (Foreign Service Officers) comprising the Dissent 51 are . Each must present a point of view, present it fully, and let public opinion crystallize one way or another. You can stand up for protect those who are least able to protect themselves. [ Editorial: NFL's anthem rule vs. the patriotism of protest ] By the way: It's simply not true that dissent is the highest form of patriotism. If you think society or the government is wrong, then by all means dissent. Send ideas to [emailprotected]. Young adults are taking to the streets and not merely protesting but wreaking havoc, rioting and looting, tearing down statues, and shutting down anyone who doesn't share their perspective.". Thinking about it, the Left has actually reverted to an infantile or kindergarten mode of thinking. For example, liberal campus speakers outnumber conservative ones 100 to 1 according to one analysis. Both parties have enforced inhumane policies against undocumented immigrants and asylum seekers. google_ad_client = "ca-pub-3535799185159270"; We live in an age where accusation is en vogue.