Dissention is more American than Apple Pie.

Ax · 02-20-2008, 09:49 AM

I have been debating on where I should put this, it's not a CE thing, isn't not really GE either, it's more about American culture. But... onwards!

It's been the rhetoric lately by a lot of political figures, candidates, pundits and even members here of CGR that Differing opinion is un-American and if "you don't like you can leave" as if dissention were somehow un-American.

The truth, however, is that dissent is how we founded our country and it is integral to our history as well as our culture. I think this attitude of American elitism started in the cold war around the McCarthy era when if a database listed your hair color as being red you could be accused of being a communist and be "blacklisted". (Check your history, there were numerous people accused of being communist with absolutely NO evidence of whatsoever. The red hair of course referring to Lucille Ball.)

This attitude is contrary to our history. The second permanent American Colony (Plymouth) was made by dissenters. Look at colonial Boston! The tea party, sons of Libery, the loyal Nine? All dissenters, and without these guys the U.S.A would probably not exist.

In fact, if you read our declaration of independence you'll find our forefathers telling the King that they have the right to dissent.

So next time you hear something ignorant along the lines of dissent being un-American, think 'wow, that guy doesn't know his history'.

(C.I.P. Mitt Romney's suspension speech).

Bryan · 02-20-2008, 09:57 AM

the problem isn't dissent. the problem I see is a negative attitude towards America. negativity is a disease that affects us in a way that most people don't realize. Dissent all you like, but please do it in a positive way.

Ax · 02-20-2008, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bryan

the problem isn't dissent. the problem I see is a negative attitude towards America. negativity is a disease that affects us in a way that most people don't realize. Dissent all you like, but please do it in a positive way.

Burning in effigy and mob rule as well as writing resolves against your paliament saying they have no right to tax you is positive?

Bryan · 02-20-2008, 11:02 AM

it appears you have put the revolutionists on a pedestal on which they can do no wrong.

Ax · 02-20-2008, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bryan

it appears you have put the revolutionists on a pedestal in which they can do no wrong.

No... I'm just pointing out how hypocritical it is to tell somebody to leave a country when they complain when our country was founding on complaining.

Bryan · 02-20-2008, 11:33 AM

I don't recall anybody saying someone should leave because they complained, but because of their "I hate America" mentality (I could be wrong). I want people who have contempt for my country to leave. You can criticize without contempt.

**slap_j** · 02-20-2008, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bryan

I don't recall anybody saying someone should leave because they complained, but because of their "I hate America" mentality (I could be wrong). I want people who have contempt for my country to leave. You can criticize without contempt.

Bryan, what does it mean to have contempt for a country?

Ax · 02-20-2008, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bryan

I don't recall anybody saying someone should leave because they complained, but because of their "I hate America" mentality (I could be wrong). I want people who have contempt for my country to leave. You can criticize without contempt.

Saying "I hate American beef" isn't saying "I hate America", it's saying we have a broken system. If I said, I hate the way the government is handling the war in Iraq, does that mean I hate the government? NO!

Truly what I hate and what most of the world hates is the American elitist attitude.

bowstaff981 · 02-20-2008, 11:57 AM

The revolutionists were dissenting against another country at the time, not their own. They didn't consider themselves part of Britain.

bowstaff981 · 02-20-2008, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AXguitar

Saying "I hate American beef" isn't saying "I hate America", it's saying we have a broken system. If I said, I hate the way the government is handling the war in Iraq, does that mean I hate the government? NO!

Truly what I hate and what most of the world hates is the American elitist attitude.

What makes someone an American elitist?

Bryan · 02-20-2008, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AXguitar

Saying "I hate American beef" isn't saying "I hate America", it's saying we have a broken system. If I said, I hate the way the government is handling the war in Iraq, does that mean I hate the government? NO!

Truly what I hate and what most of the world hates is the American elitist attitude.

forgive me if I think that America happens to be the greatest country in the world.

Ax · 02-20-2008, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bowstaff981

The revolutionists were dissenting against another country at the time, not their own. They didn't consider themselves part of Britain.

They very much so did think themselves to be part of Britain. George Washington's entire life's goal up until after the French/Indian war was to be a General in the Royal Army. It was the aftermath of that war that ultimately led up to their dissent and decision to separate themselves from Britain.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bowstaff981

What makes someone an American elitist?

The attitude that America is the greatest, everybody else in inferior, and thus we should police the world and force our ideals down their throat with a gun or nuclear weapon.