OK, maybe Jefferson didn't say it.......

[BonosSaint]

The statement attributed to Thomas Jefferson regarding dissent being the highest form of patriotism may be misattributed (or a hoax), however, I believe the words to be true.

Is dissent the highest form of patriotism? (We can argue all day about the methods of dissent and their appropriateness or effectiveness; however do you find the basic tenet of this statement to be true.)

 

[A_Wanderer]

No the act alone is not, I would say that preserving peoples right to dissent is the highest form of patriotism.

 

[BonosSaint]

No the act alone is not, I would say that preserving peoples right to dissent is the highest form of patriotism.

Interesting clarification. I might agree with that, if so many people didn't agree with concepts in the abstract and then have a breakdown over the practice of it. So I will leave my original question as stands.

 

[Macfistowannabe]

The inner "rebel" in me seems to agree with Tom on this. I think it's true in a way that you shouldn't conform just to conform, but see both sides of every issue, and if you must, escape the slavery attached to a certain mindset.

But then again, I think the protesters who went to great lengths to promote negativity played a major role in who got my vote in 2004. I questioned the Iraq war for a long time, but I was annoyed with all the "dying in vain" rubbish.

It should be protected, because it allows you to have a glimpse in someone's heart, and therefore you know what they really think.

 

[Ft. Worth Frog]

Anyone can dissent...Dissent for dissent's sake is worthless IMHO. All it does is show that you can disagree with somone.

 

[nbcrusader]

I would characterize it as the free flow of discussion, not simple "dissent"