Dissent – A Brief Guide
November 21st, 2005 at 8:12 pm by CrankyIn the big John Murtha Kerfluffle and the ensuing Republican house resolution/stunt, the whole “Dissent is Patriotic” bumpersticker wisdom has resurfaced.
Something has always seemed wrong about watching some self-loathing genetic accident from Berkeley assert that his dissent is patriotic as he burns an American flag.
Then it hit me – The “Dissent is Patriotic” bromide presupposes that the dissenter is “patriotic” in the first place. Patriotism, after all, is defined as a love of one’s country. If this love is the motivation for dissent, then yes, “Dissent is Patriotic.”
John Murtha is a patriot. His opposition to the Iraq war is principled and based on his perception that we’re executing the war in a way that makes it unwinnable and excessively dangerous for our troops. I don’t agree with him, but that is beside the point.
On the other hand, if one is a “whiney b*tch” whose personal issues are projected into his political worldview, then his “Dissent is Patriotic” bumpersticker should be taken as seriously as his 1972 Volvo.
(Commie boy image stolen from INDC Journal)
November 21st, 2005 at 9:53 pm
Another good post, Cranky.
In that case, Murtha made a tactical blunder at best, which gives cause to wonder how smart he is as a politician, or tactician.
At worst, he needs to get out more and see how real people — you know, bus riders — react to utterances from the Congressional On-High. Mebbe that would temper his mouth, mebbe not. But then the public would know.
Murtha’s mouth-fart is an argument toward instant votes of no-confidence in Congressmen. Since Al Gore invented the Internet, perhaps he could code a secure, Web-based vote code that would allow consituents to instantly recall a Congressman for being a jackass or a jackoff.
Why wait years — when motivations often subside — for voters to kick a clown or a coward out of office?
November 22nd, 2005 at 10:43 am
If one were to line up the bone-dumb comments from a congressman, that line would stretch beyond the solar system.
And the thought an elected official might declare some viewpoint JUST to get a potential vote, why that’s just crazy isn’t it?
Maybe we should have a Patriotism Test, and if you fail it, you get booted out of the U.S. And to make sure the Test is always in lock-step agreement with policies – let’s get rid of these divisive elections and have a Monarchy.
As for voting for or against going to War, the Congress abandoned that option going back to the Korean “conflict.” Members of Congress only voted to spend money on a military operation in Iraq.
The last thing America needs are leaders publicly debating the governmental issues. What a horrible effect those debates have on the rest of the world.
November 22nd, 2005 at 11:57 am
“Maybe we should have a Patriotism Test, and if you fail it, you get booted out of the U.S. And to make sure the Test is always in lock-step agreement with policies – let’s get rid of these divisive elections and have a Monarchy.”
Joe, did you actually read this post or do you just kind of find a few key words and go off?
November 22nd, 2005 at 12:07 pm
You’ve got to cut Joe some slack. He’s from Morristown. Times is tough for those who still speak English in Morristown, so he may not have had time to read the entire post in between going out and shooing illegals off his front lawn.
November 22nd, 2005 at 12:19 pm
Yes, Cranky I did read the entire post.
Silly me, I thought satire was an acceptable form of communication here.
November 22nd, 2005 at 12:59 pm
Joe,
Let’s make something perfectly clear
Me: Witty, sarcastic observer dispenser of satire.
You: Straight guy who appreciates my scintillating observations. Acceptable responses are “good post”, “hmmm” and “excellent post”.
Anything else tends to confuse me and disrupts the harmony of the Universe.
Seriously, I wasn’t sure where you were/are coming from. My apologies.
Please feel free to comment anytime. But please leave the satire to trained professionals like ourselves.