Freedom.
How is it that when people question the decisions of our leaders and the war in Iraq they are so frequently labeled as un-American or unpatriotic?
This logic of this argument fails me every time.
The current thread on Blurbomat’s site got me thinking about this again, and as today is Memorial Day, the topic seems apropos. I know I have said it many, many times before, but I do not now, nor have I ever been supportive of the current Bush administration. I do not believe his actions and decisions are in the best interest of our country, our soldiers, or our world. I think he is intellectually unsuited for the job, and I think the election and the powers that placed him in that role were questionable at best and corrupt at worst. I am happy to argue all of these points at length with anyone who disagrees with me, but that’s not my point here.
DJ Blurb is also no fan of Mr. Bush. And has also made it abundantly clear on his site many times in the past. However, in doing so he (and his readers) is immediately attacked as un-American.
Frankly, this offends me for if that can be said of him, the same can be said of me.
I, for one, love this country and love the freedoms and the resources and the opportunities and the history we have. I’ve traveled enough to recognize first hand how lucky we are. But my love for America doesn’t mean I should keep blind faith in the decisions and actions of our elected leaders.
Those who accuse us of being unpatriotic love to remind us that thousands of men and women have died to protect those freedoms we chose to invoke. I am well aware of this. My grandparents are both veterans, as is my uncle. My brother is an officer in the Marine Corp, and I am proud of him and his decision to be ready to fight for our country.
That doesn’t mean I want him to fight for causes that I believe are amoral or unjust. It’s called Memorial Day because those soldiers are dead. And before we send any more of our children off to kill or to die, aren’t we not only justified but required to question why? If we believe strongly that those sacrifices are not made in the best interests of the world or our country, are we not only justified but required to dissent?
Our freedom of dissent is at the heart of those American values and freedoms we are sworn to protect. The ability to publicly voice our disapproval of our government and to actively work for a change in said government is perhaps our greatest freedom of all.
So please, somebody tell me, how this makes me or anyone else who disproves of our president un-American and unpatriotic?
I would argue that questioning authority isn’t only American, it is one of the most responsible and patriotic actions you can take.
Comments
here, here, mr. jimbo, well said.
i'm proud to live in a country where i can agree to disagree. with anyone. about anything. so many other places to live don't afford you those freedoms.
Posted by: ratty | May 31, 2004 05:51 PM
Jimbo...I have pondered over this one for many years myself and find the inconsistancies and lack reason in their arguements ironic to say the least. These self professed Super Patriots wave the flag higher, pound their chests harder and spout off all their patriotic sounding rhetoric while at the same time sacrificing the Bill of Rights and the very freedoms we have prided ourselves in and defined ourself by as Americans.
My family goes back to pre-Revolutionary times in this country. My ancestors fought for and forged this great land and both of my parents served during WWII...Mom was a nurse in North Africa and Italy...and my only son is currently in the Army and I am so proud of him and so grateful that he has thus far not been deployed.
My heart aches because of what is happening in our country. I came upon this quote which I think is most fitting to this discussion.
"To announce that there must be no criticism of the President or that we are to stand by the President right or wrong is not only unpatriotic and servile but it is morally treasonable to the American public." Theodore Roosevelt
Posted by: CDL | May 31, 2004 07:09 PM
How much can we honestly know about freedom, having never experienced the lack of it ourselves? What is pleasure without pain if not undefineable?
But talking to people like that is like hitting your head against a brick wall. They'll never give any ground, and obviously they're never WRONG. "Whether or not I agree with your views, you still have the right to express them." WHY is that such a difficult concept to grasp?!
Posted by: Sarah | May 31, 2004 10:16 PM
Uhh, Jim ... we have to talk.
Posted by: John Ashcroft | June 1, 2004 07:25 AM
I must say that I'm much more worried about a time when no one questions our leaders.
Posted by: Nicole | June 1, 2004 07:30 AM
It is the fist responsibility of every citizen to question authority-Benjamin Franklin.
Posted by: Jennifer | June 1, 2004 09:14 AM
I've been questioning authority since I was out of the womb. I'm a lot like Alec Baldwin in that movie, "Malice". Only I don't think I'm God. More like Juno.
Posted by: melly | June 1, 2004 11:32 AM
You're a true descendent of Thomas Jefferson, who believed that the American revolution should never stop, in theory - that things must be questioned and challenged at all times.
I'm proud of that legacy - and I think this is a wonderful post.
Thanks for it.
Posted by: red | June 1, 2004 11:40 AM
Very well said, Jimbo. Very well said...
In fact, I think it's quite immature for anyone to use such 'debate tactics' (if you can even call it that) to gun a person down for not being patriotic, JUST because they happen to disagree with the path set forth by their country's leader.
It's a cop out, if you ask me. Anytime I hear such an accusation, I think the person just doesn't have it in them to retaliate with an objective view point.
Posted by: lelu | June 1, 2004 12:31 PM
a descendant whose family arrived here 100 years after he died. but i'll take that as a great compliment. thanks red!
Posted by: the mighty jimbo | June 1, 2004 09:44 PM
Al Frankin has a quote from his book "Lies" that says "Republicans love their country like a 5 year old loves it's mommy. It can do no wrong. Democrats love their country like an adult. We love it enough to see it's faults and try to change them." Something like that.
I love Al. Oh, and America. Like an adult.
Posted by: Julie | June 2, 2004 04:22 AM
Where would we be as a country if our founding fathers had never questioned authority? Amazing that those so-called patriots fail to consider that. It's also HIGHLY ironic that the people claiming criticism of Bush is unpatriotic spent 8 years dogging Clinton. They were the first to cry "Wag the Dog" when Clinton tried to take out Osama Bin Laden after Al Qaeda bombed U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania.
Posted by: Tina | June 2, 2004 08:26 AM
BTW, do you mind if I quote you on my site (as long as I give credit and a linkback)?
Posted by: Tina | June 2, 2004 08:42 AM