The Dissent Deceit. It is not patriotism's highest form.

New York Post ^ | July 12, 2008 | Ralph Peters

[FocusNexus]

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 self-righteous bull is that Jefferson never said it. On the contrary, he warned of the dangers of political dissension carried to extremes.

The earliest traceable provenance of the slogan goes back to an obscure 1960s lefty who just made it up (long before activist-historian Howard Zinn commandeered it).

My fellow Americans, let me ask you: Were Abby Hoffman, Jerry Rubin and Sen. Barack Obama's Weatherman Underground pals (who bombed their own country) really more patriotic than those who served in Vietnam? Was trashing the campus records office truly the "highest form of patriotism?"

Dissent can be patriotic - it's essential to have an ongoing public debate about the major issues confronting us. But that dissent must be based on facts, not sloppy emotions.

Instead, we get dissent worn as a fashion statement. And fanatic dissent (as Jefferson noted) is the enemy of a democratic system.

[rabscuttle385]

But that dissent must be based on facts, not sloppy emotions.

Our opposition to Juan is very much based on fact.

[rbg81]

By that standard, the draft dodgers who went to Canada were more patriotic that men who got Silver Stars in Vietnam.

[goldstategop]

Hatred of your country is not dissent. True patriots may disagree about the means but never the ends. Today's faux dissidents oppose both the means and the ends and to no one's surprise, they emerge uniformly in opposition to their own country and they see nothing good about it. Its not dissent; its treason stalking from within the gates and the traitor who wears the mask of a friend inside is more to be feared than the enemy outside, for while the enemy outside attacks the frontiers of a nation, the enemy within attacks its spirit and saps its will to survive an enemy onslaught.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[doc1019]

Draft dodgers who went to Canada were more cowards than dissenters, IMHO … but your logic is spot on. ;-)

[Americanwolf]

Dissent is a form of Patriotism when the system has become corrupt and no longer serves the good of the people.... but the Dissent that the Libs sell you is nothing more the selective outrage and dissent and not anywhere near patriotism... for instead of preserving the current form of government and laws we have the would rather scrap it and instill what they think is right and not what is for the good of the people....

Silly liberal wacos dissent is for really people not the Faux intelligentsia and the Elitist wonks.... for all they want to do is consolidate power for themselves and run others lives... whilst the true patriot struggles to free his country and people from the tyranny of oppression....

And if i am not mistaken... Keeping the people of this country free from the tyranny of oppression was one of Thomas Jefferson's Ideas....

[Texas Eagle]

Funny how the Paleo-Media didn’t lavish patriotic praise on us when we were criticizing Monica Lewinsky’s dingaling of a boyfriend when he was President.

[llandres]

Very, very aptly and eloquently said.

And, forgive me for digressing a moment, but I’m so, so sad tonight about our loss of a wonderful human being early today, Tony Snow - a true patriot. A beautiful soul in every way who touched so many lives, always in a positive way.

[llandres]

Funny how the Paleo-Media didn’t lavish patriotic praise on us when we were criticizing Monica Lewinsky’s dingaling of a boyfriend when he was President.”

yes, interesting, isn’t it? and if, God Forbid, BHO is elected, you’ll hear (or not hear!) all the left suddenly be very silent for the duration. OR, I’ve thought about this also, anything at ALL Bad that happens under him will be blamed on GW and the “mess he left behind”, (gag me) certainly not on BHO. But, as I said, God Forbid it will come to that.

[vanishing liberty]

“By that standard, the draft dodgers who went to Canada were more patriotic that men who got Silver Stars in Vietnam.”

Wait a second now, John Kerry got a Silver Star in Vietnam, and lots of patriots dodged the draft.

[Tzimisce]

Hm...

[avenir]

“True patriots may disagree about the means but never the ends.”

Here, here!

[Grunthor]

Well, fact yes. Emotion, yes as well.

[woofie]

Opposition like yours helps no one

[WilliamofCarmichael]

Dissent can be patriotic - it's essential to have an ongoing public debate about the major issues confronting us. But that dissent must be based on facts, not sloppy emotions.

Forget attempts at discourse, with or without attempts you always become the "issue." And while you're busy 'splainin' why you are not a racist, homophobe, xenophobe, etc. etc. they've moved on to another inane slogan or phony "issue." Inane slogans of lies and phony "issues" are weapons.

Perhaps the only counter weapon is lampoonery.

[WilliamofCarmichael]

Others have suggested that far too many Americans -- and not just from the left -- have "moved beyond being Americans."

So they transcend matters patriotic and seek instead to make a "better" America that is less threatening to their world. Perhaps the "free tradin'" transnational business folks and the New Democrat Third Way progressives are examples right and left, respectively.

[Cacique]

btt

[rabscuttle385]

Opposition like yours helps no one

Well, ideally, it would prevent conservatives from getting into the particular situation of being thrown under Juan's Straight Pandering Express after they are no longer useful.

[occamrzr06]

“Hope is not a method”.

Oh god, how often I heard that in 26 years on the military.

Spot-on!

[1manband]

Jefferson, in fact, was an ardent supporter of decent as evidenced by his stating:

“And what country can preserve its liberties, if its 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.”

letter to William Stephens Smith, November 13, 1787.—The Papers of Thomas Jefferson, ed. Julian P. Boyd, vol. 12, p. 356 (1955).

Jefferson was a contradiction in many ways but did, in fact, think that decent was critical to a functioning democracy. He did, however, state in a letter to Thomas Pinckney that political dissent in social life should be avoided.