As Ethan Epstein wrote in The Weekly Standard, Few 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 to dispel. What counts as misinformation is subject to the whims of the Democrats, of course. Whoever would overthrow the liberty of a nation must begin by subduing the freeness of speech; a thing terrible to public traitors., Alexander Hamilton, in People v. Croswell, Feb. 13, 1804, stated during the presidential administration of Thomas Jefferson: The liberty of the press consists, in my idea, in publishing the truth, from good motives and for justifiable ends, though it reflect on the government, on magistrates, or individuals. Protest alone is no more patriotic than, say, the general act of fighting in a war is. We point fingers in judgment without any conviction of decency, civility or love. My point is that our founders secured our rights in the First Amendment for even vehement dissent and the use of what many today would call hate speech, which the U.S. Supreme court again affirmed just a few years ago. Then dissent is not the highest form of patriotism. The quote can be found in the first sentence of Mr. Zinns first answer. 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? But our founders did not condone or endorse violent or destructive dissent, until of course they realized that separation and war with the Crown was the only way forward and inevitable a sentiment Thomas Jefferson even echoed for the preservation of our own republic in latter half of the Declaration of Independence. As Purdue University President and former Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels said, If universities want to embarrass themselves with their behavior, allowing people to be shouted down or disinvited, thats their problem. When any faction isn't getting its way in Washington, it's popular to quote (erroneously) Thomas Jefferson: "Dissent is the highest form of patriotism.". As my National Review colleague John. 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. 60,000 gathered in Chicago alone. By Friends Peace Committee (Philadelphia, Pa.). Commenting on this very subject, a student named Erin Ching actually wrote the following: What really bothered me is the whole idea that at a liberal arts college we need to be hearing a diversity of opinion. One can dismiss the musings of a millennial still in the incubator of higher education, not the real world. If it will burn all the form And what about politicians? I dont think dissent is a high form of patriotism, but it is a key element in a free society. Benjamin Franklin wrote, It is the first responsibility of every citizen to question authority. He also said, Rebellion against tyrants is obedience to God., Even a young 16-year-old Franklin, in his Dogwood Papers, written in 1722, stated wisdom: In those wretched countries where a man cannot call his tongue his own, he can scarce call anything his own. So many today are on the wrong track, and the unpatriotic messages about America they receive in public schools arent helping. "Dissent is the highest form of patriotism." It's a phrase that was credited to Thomas Jefferson, but there's no real evidence that he ever said or wrote this popular phrase used quite often by people on the left when they feel the need to justify their often ludicrous actions against anyone in charge with an "R" next to their name. As the historian Howard Zinn said, "Dissent is the highest form of patriotism." Too often these patriots have been blacklisted, beaten, killed, or jailed. 38: Geraldo Doubles Down About AR-15s and Manages to Make Things Worse, Why Generation Z Needs Financial Literacy, 'We'll Handle That': Trump's Comments on Possible 2024 DeSantis Bid Suggest Business as Usual for The Donald, The Pulitzer Prize Dis-Honors: Robo Torts, Stolen Gin Ports, and Buying Cars With Contents In Your Shorts, Inflation May Be Easing, but Drug Prices Aren't. But our founders did not condone or endorse violent or destructive dissent, until of course they realized that separation and war with the Crown was the only way forward and inevitable a sentiment Thomas Jefferson even echoed for the preservation of our own republic in latter half of the Declaration of Independence. Achebe's definition of a true 'patriot' is one 'who will always demand the highest standards of his country and accept nothing but the best from his people. "Blind faith in bad leadership is not patriotism" - Hillary Clinton 2006. Hot take: Flyers should've benched 'ignorant, obnoxious, and homophobic' Provorov over pride jersey, Try Not to Laugh at DOJ's Excuse for Not Sending FBI to Raid Biden's Homes for Classified Docs, California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. We extol patriotism as the highest civic virtue. However, in the midst of justified outrage some people have themselves begun committing unjustifiable acts, assaulting and murdering police officers, burning down buildings, mercilessly beating people, and destroying their fellow citizens property. 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? For example, many who opposed the country's entry into various foreign wars, but who nevertheless adamantly opposed their country being threatened or attacked, were high patriots. However, the framers drew a line between peaceful protests and armed insurrections. I'm not ignorant of how some protests turned violent in the formative years of our republic leading up to the Revolutionary War. By Mark Steyn What a jerk. In my opinion, it captures the essence of the First Amendment. D . 26 Copy quote. But you are U.S. citizens now, and so are most of you in the audience. The right to dissent is the side benefit of living in a country that can be afforded that right by those that would defend it to their death. 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. In this country, where free speech is literally the very first God-given right on the list of God-given rights, patriotism would be hating the dissent being thrown your way but appreciating the fact that the people can do it. Howard Zinn said: "Dissent is the highest form of patriotism." and: " If the gods had intended for people to vote, they would have given us candidates ". 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. It is not known what role the "Dar al-Hijrah mosque in Great Falls, Virginia" played in subsequent events. If you oppose these nonsensical inventions like trigger warnings or safe spaces, you are insensitive at best and a hater at worst. He allegedly said, A republic, if you can keep it. The question still stands. It is always a nice point whether criticism of the Government, especially in time of war, is the highest form of patriotism or the basest form of treachery. It's truer to say that these days patriotism is the highest form of dissent - against a culture where the media award each other Pulitzers for damaging national security, and the only way a . So much for patriotism, then. The right to dissent. Regardless of where you land in your politics, it is profoundly heart-wrenching these Americans died. Dissent is now patriotism. It is an elitist attitude that they- and only they- know what is best or the correct course of action. "Dissent is the highest form of patriotism" is often attributed to Thomas Jefferson, but to date we have found no evidence that he said or wrote this. Henry David Thoreau . (By the way, the phrase appears to have actually originated during protests against the Vietnam war.) What's amazing to me is just how unabashedly hypocritical many on the left can be. And in so doing, we need to reconsider and reeducate others on what the term "peaceably" meant to our founders and should also mean to us. All Rights Reserved. (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 weeks broadcast on What Happened at the Capitol. Encourage others also to listen to their inspiring and educational Constitution Alive series. Murthy is also concerned about messages that might encourage people to reject public-health measures such as masking and physical distancing, which would encompass even good-faith skepticism about the effectiveness of those safeguards. Google News Archive It is intellectual snobbery devoid of intellect. 931 Thomas Jefferson Parkway Earth Justice / Environmental Degradation. Your email address will not be published. And what about politicians? 2 June 1991, Boston (MA) Globe, A new ACLU head and an old threat, pg. But if theyre spawning a bunch of little authoritarians with an inverted view of our basic freedoms, thats everybodys problem. [Emphasis mine] Donald Trump was many things, but the one thing he wasnot was the bringer of fascism to America. 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). Close enough. Bottom line, as Barton concluded, Peaceful protests are protected by the Bill of Rights, but violent riots which destroy, loot, and victimize are antithetical to the American idea. Nancy Pelosi, the liberal Democratic Representative from San Francisco, wrote early this morning in a special USA Today editorial that those protesting against government run health care are "un-American". Ching may have inadvertently and accurately expressed the voice of a generation: Lets celebrate diversity by enforcing conformity. We live in an age where accusation is en vogue. Its a phrase that was credited to Thomas Jefferson, but theres no real evidence that he ever said or wrote this popular phrase used quite often by people on the left when they feel the need to justify their often ludicrous actions against anyone in charge with an R next to their name. No surprise. It was the late, not-so-great historian and rewriter of American history, Howard Zinn- a stone cold liberal of the worst kind (perhaps as low or lower than Noam Chomsky)- who said that dissent is the highest form of patriotism. But, how hollow those words ring true in todays world, especially when the Left has seized the reigns of power in the media and academia. Listen to Robert Emmerich introduce "The Big Apple," a hit song from 1937. 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