"Dissent is the Highest Form of Patriotism."

That's what we told the supporters of George W. Bush when they tried to shut us up during the long 8 years of irrational nonsense that are finally drawing to a close. The phrase still applies as we congratulate Barack Obama on his election victory and look forward to the dawning of the Obama Era. Many of us look forward to the beginning of Obama's presidency with some trepidation.

Yes, Barack Obama's victory is historic. Yes, Barack Obama is clearly made of finer presidential material than John McCain. That's why we voted for him. But along the path to victory Barack Obama made some pit stops that are disturbing to political progressives.

When we entered the voting booth, we didn't have the chance to write down the worries that begin with the words, "I voted for you, but...". There's no space on the ballot for the expression of a caveat or a disappointment or any other form of dissent. Yet dissent is the highest form of patriotism, or as Theodore Roosevelt once put it, "to announce that there must be no criticism of the president, or that we are to stand by the president right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public."

As progressively patriotic Americans who want America to be the best it can be, we must voice our concerns, and then we must act upon them.


15 Upcoming Activist Events

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Title of Event: National Assembly Anti-War Conference
Event City: La Roche College
Event State: PA
Event Location: East Campus off Babcock Road
Date and Time: 2009-07-10, all day
Event Website: https://www.natassembly.org/July_10_Conference.html
Organizer's Name: National Assembly to End the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars and Occupations
Contact Email and Phone Number: natassembly@aol.com, 412-361-3022

Event Description: U.S. wars of intervention, mass murder and occupation are crimes against humanity. We must build a broad, united mass movement of the American people to end them. How can this be accomplished? Share your ideas and proposals at the Second Open National Antiwar Conference sponsored by the National Assembly to End the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars and Occupations at La Roche College, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, July 10-12, 2009.


Title of Event: National Counter-Recruitment and Demilitarization Conference
Event City: Chicago
Event State: IL
Event Location: Roosevelt University
Date and Time: 2009-07-17, all day
Event Website: http://nnomy.org/joomla/index.php
Organizer's Name: National Network Opposing Military Recruitment of Youth
Contact Email and Phone Number: crconf@gmail.com, 312-427-2533

Event Description: This conference will bring together a broad spectrum of people to share skills and form the relationships needed to build a permanent resistance to militarism. Youth, parents, educators, veterans, artists, members of social justice organizations and more will come together for practical training on counter recruitment, legislative challenges and public pressure to promote nonmilitary alternatives.

But the issue isn’t only counter recruitment. It is about militarism. Military attitudes and values like obedience, conformity and the use of force to solve problems have seeped into every area of our society. It is crucial that counter-recruitment and social justice activists, youth and all who want to do something about it gather for this weekend of skill sharing, strategizing and solidarity. NNOMY has confirmed dozens of workshops for July's conference.

The conference continues through July 19.


Title of Event: Green Party USA Annual National Meeting
Event City: Durham
Event State: North Carolina
Event Location: North Carolina Central University
Date and Time: 2009-07-23, all day every day through July 26
Event Website: http://www.gp.org/2009-ANM/
Organizer's Name: Green Party USA
Contact Email and Phone Number: hillarya@upenn.edu,

Event Description: The Green Party of the United States is pleased to announce that the 2009 Annual National Meeting will be held from Thursday, July 23-Sunday July 26, 2009 on the campus of North Carolina Central University in Durham, NC. We hope you plan to attend this year's largest national gathering of Greens to make new friends, network, and help grow the Green Party nationally in your community.