My name is John Halstead. If you didn't know, the freedom to protest or assemble peaceably had its background in the First Continental Congress and the grievances the American people had against King George III and Parliament. F ew 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. 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. It is my privilege to congratulate you on becoming United States citizens. ). Jain Irrigation Systems Ltd. No sense of dissent. After all, if all protest is patriotic than those white supremacists marching in Charlottesville, Virginia, last month were the greatest patriots of all. All the individual attacks are meaningless since the individual is simply a parrot of the party line. The entire concept of political correctness is that which is anything acceptable to the Left. I dont think dissent is a high form of patriotism, but it is a key element in a free society. They want you censored, whether youre an insane conspiracy theorist or just a person asking basic questions that run too close to exposing a reality theyd rather the people not see. Many of the people most affected my immigration policy cannot come to the airport protest, because they fear for themselves or for family members. Get 'The Gospel in Every Book of the Old Testament' now. "Dissent is the highest form of Patriotism" - Hillary Clinton 2006. 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. What if those crazy conservatives seize the reigns of power? Today's politics are all about pitching polarities, demonizing your opposition, and casting blame to justify one's own divisiveness, rage and inability to bridge gaps. Many, especially those from non-European or non-English-speaking countries, suffer abuse from native-born citizens who are racist and xenophobic. Enough! to War By Bernard Weinraub, pg. Were members of the German American Bund, who protested the U.S.s anti-Nazi policies in the 1930s and 40s, enacting the highest form of patriotism? Id like to think the question answers itself. Google Maps. (*The sticker read, "Dissent is the Highest Form of Patriotism." Which Jefferson never . "Dissent is the highest form of patriotism." This is a quote by Howard Zinn which is about . As the historian Howard Zinn said, "Dissent is the highest form of patriotism." Too often these patriots have been blacklisted, beaten, killed, or jailed. 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 Jefferson's Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom. For we Americans know the truth of Martin Luther Kings words: Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. Injustice to one is a threat to justice for all. Once a respected director and film critic, associate editor Peter Suderman has been outed to the White House Communications Office as one of the fishiest of all the opponents to the President's reform plan: . "Since when has it been part of American patriotism to keep our mouths shut?" - Hillary Clinton 2006. google_ad_format = "120x600_as"; Copyright 2023 RedState.com/Salem Media. Its true origins are uncertain, but the saying may have entered popular culture during the Vietnam era. What we need like never before are leaders at the state and federal level like those decades ago who knew how to agree to disagree agreeably, confronted tough challenges together and advanced our nation forward with American exceptionalism despite their differences. Its not and they know it, but if they cant lock you up and shoot you for speaking out against them, they can try to silence you and with your largest platform for dissent being your social media accounts, the Democrats know right where to hit you. Over the last few years, both those on the left and right have protested in big ways. 10, cols. 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. America needs to resurrect the real First Amendment, as I did in my New York Times bestseller "Black Belt Patriotism." On October 15, 1969, in a speech at Columbia University, Mayor John Lindsay of New York City stated, "We cannot rest content with the charge from Washington that this peaceful protest is unpatriotic. Goggle the phrase "Dissent is the highest form of patriotism" along with the name "Thomas Jefferson" and you will find thousands of Web pages attributing the sentiment to the third president of the United States. In its document called, Declaration and Resolves (Oct. 14, 1774), the Congress stated that the people have a right to peaceably assemble, consider of their grievances, and petition the king (something they were not allowed to do in the motherland). GOP debt ceiling demand is (failed) past on repeat, Two states embrace occupational licensing reform, The Biden classified documents fiasco: Questions that need answers, NHL player skips warmups, refuses to wear Pride night jersey, Thirty feet and counting: California town buried in snow, Bitcoin has risen nearly 30% since start of new year, Joe Biden approves emergency declaration for California due to atmospheric river. Peaceful protests shouldnt morph into pandemonium protests. Perhaps its because people who have to work and fight for something tend to appreciate it more, more than those who are simply born into it. It is the peaceful American way to turn the nation away from a self-defeating course." Do you agree with the quote? I welcome any and all recipes. The question still stands. And here in Hammond, just a few miles away, hundreds gathered in front the federal building to stand up for the human rights of immigrants. But this is not to say that all dissent is high-minded and admirable. Though you were not born in this country, you and those like you represent the best of its ideals. () Henry David Thoreau . Is it too late for U.S. military members discharged for refusing COVID jab? 26 Copy quote. For King, dissent did not mean disloyaltyin fact, dissent was a high form of patriotism. Im not ignorant of how some protests turned violent in the formative years of our republic leading up to the Revolutionary War. Perhaps when drafting these policies on college campuses, or even in legislatures, one should think ahead a little and say, What if the shoe was on the other foot? Again, we are confronted with the fallacy of the fake Jefferson quote. Dissent is the Highest Form of Patriotism - YouTube Col. Larry Wilkerson speaks at Sam Adams Awards ceremony honoring Jesselyn Radack and Thomas Drake Col. Larry Wilkerson speaks at Sam. google_color_link = "0000FF"; (For more great perspectives on patriotism and our founders, I would encourage you listen daily to Wallbuilders Live broadcasts with Rick Green and David & Tim Barton, especially last week's broadcast on "What Happened at the Capitol." " D issent is the highest form of patriotism," read the popular Bush-era bumper sticker. google_color_url = "008000"; Many have to learn a new language. (Nowhere in that article does Howard Zinn attribute that quote to Jefferson.) And Im sure if Takei and his ilk thought this through for a moment they might realize this. Ching may have inadvertently and accurately expressed the voice of a generation: Lets celebrate diversity by enforcing conformity. But are these the type of peaceful protests our Founding Fathers or framers of the U.S. Constitution had in mind when they secured our rights to peaceably assemble and dissent in the First Amendment? Regardless of where you land in your politics, it is profoundly heart-wrenching these Americans died. Winston Churchill is to have said, You can always depend on Americans to do the right thing, after they have exhausted every other possibility. It usually takes us longer than it should, but eventually we will do the right thing. According to the Jefferson Library: "There are a number of quotes that we do not find in Thomas Jefferson's correspondence or other writings; in such cases, Jefferson should not be cited as the source. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact [emailprotected]. Sign up now to get the Washington Examiners breaking news and timely commentary delivered right to your inbox. Ron SparksSolution Architect, Author, Poet Home Fiction Non-Fiction Poetry Books by Ron Sparks My Cancer Search Siblings of U.S. citizens must wait more than 10 years. November 10, 2022 11:00 PM. The goal of ReligiousFreedomDay.com is to promote and protect students religious expression rights by informing educators, parents and students about these liberties. Via @actdottv pic.twitter.com/khD7kJRlkW. Music written by Bob and performed by Tommy Dorsey's Clambake Seven with Bob on piano. Among the most common of these spurious Jefferson quotes are: Dissent is the highest form of patriotism. What's amazing to me is just how unabashedly hypocritical many on the left can be. Send ideas to [emailprotected]. We extol patriotism as the highest civic virtue. A Free Press for a Free People - Since 1997, Oops: Left's attempt to boycott 'Harry Potter' video game backfiring badly before it's even released, peaceful protests and armed insurrections. Many people . "Is dissent really the highest form of patriotism?" Not by itself, no. My name is John Halstead. 1-2: This is impossible without the right of looking to men., George Washington, in his address to the officers of the army, March 15, 1783, couldnt have stated it better: For if men are to be precluded from offering their sentiments on a matter, which may involve the most serious and alarming consequences, that can invite the consideration of mankind, reason is of no use to us; the freedom of speech may be taken away, and, dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep, to the slaughter., Washington would have concurred that freedom of speech included dissent even against the king or president, as long as it didnt lead to his demise. 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