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More truth from America's bestJanuary 12, 2005 | 12:29 AMBy today's standards, these men may be counted as traitors among contemporary patriots. But they knew something that has been lost on modern flag-wavers; that free inquiry and criticism are essential for a healthy democracy to survive. From our greatest leaders: The history of liberty is the history of resistance. The means of defense against foreign danger historically have become the instruments of tyranny at home. Secrecy and a free, democratic government don't mix. Reason and free inquiry are the only effectual agents against error. Patriotism means to stand by the country. It does not mean to stand by the President. Here in America we are descended in blood and in spirit from revolutionist and rebel men and women who dare to disssent from accepted doctrine. As their heirs, may we never confuse honest dissent with disloyal subversion. We need not fear the expression of ideas; we do need to fear their suppression. Mankind must put an end to war or war will put an end to mankind. When the people fear the government, tyranny has found victory. The federal government is our servant, not our master. The basis of our political systems is the right of the people to make and to alter their constitutions of government. All men having power ought to be distrusted to a certain degree. 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 is morally treasonable to the American public. Dissent is the highest form of patriotism. To add another item to last month's Christmas list, I wish these men's ideas were no longer obsolete in post-9/11 America. I wish the President today recognized that free inquiry, dissent, and criticism are tools of a free socity, as did presidents past. I'll leave you with the above patriotic quotes as I continue to look for the remnants of my horribly battered optimism. Comments:On More truth from America's bestThose are some very nice quotes. We must realize, of course, that many of these men practiced the same things they condemned, particularly Kennedy and Truman during the Cold War. They spoke rhetoric against war and secrecy while practicing these things at the same time (just as our current President has said he hates war, yet pursues it anyway). If only all our Presidents were men who did in secret the things they said in public. Posted by: Kyle at January 13, 2005 09:10 AMA big Amen to that. But unlike presidents past, Bush refuses to acknowledge that dissent and free inquiry are essential for democracy, and tends to lump dissenters together with enemies of America. The presidents of past have recognized that dissent is an act of patriotism, and quelling dissent is an act of treachery. Today we see the exact opposite. And that is a problem. Posted by: Drina at January 13, 2005 12:00 PMThat one from Teddy is my favorite... Posted by: Mike at January 15, 2005 11:44 AM
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Drina Vurbic 2004 |
