"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(Submit an Event You Know About or Search all Events)Event City: Washington, DC Event State: DC Event Location: On the National Mall by the Washington Monument Date and Time: 2010-03-19, Starting at 8 AM Event Website: http://www.oly-wa.us/iraqmemorial/ Organizer's Name: Douglas Mackey Contact Email and Phone Number: douglas.mackey@iraqmemorialtolife.org, 360-485-3764 Event Description: Because we believe in the dignity and worth of each human being, that all people on earth have an equal claim on life, liberty and justice, we are commemorating all lives lost in the Iraq war with a monument erected on the National Mall beside the Washington Monument, starting on the morning of March 19. Event City: Los Angeles Event State: CA Event Location: Hollywood & Vine Date and Time: 2010-03-20, 12 Noon Event Website: http://answerla.org Organizer's Name: ANSWER LA Contact Email and Phone Number: answerla@answerla.org, 213-251-1025 Event Description: People from all over Southern California and surrounding states are organizing to converge on Los Angeles on Saturday, March 20, 12 noon, Hollywood and Vine. That day, there will also be a national march on Washington, D.C., and a regional action in San Francisco. We will march together to say “No Colonial-type Wars and Occupations in Afghanistan, Iraq, Palestine!" We will march together to say "Reparations for the people of Haiti!” Instead of war and occupation, we will demand funds so that every person can have a job, free and universal health care, decent schools, and affordable housing. March 20 is the seventh anniversary of the criminal war of aggression launched by Bush and Cheney against Iraq. One million or more Iraqis have died. Tens of thousands of U.S. troops have lost their lives or been maimed, and continue to suffer a whole host of enduring problems from this terrible war. Now, the Obama administration has continued the war and escalated the war on Afghanistan. Event City: Washington Event State: DC Event Location: National Mall Date and Time: 2010-03-20, All Day Event Website: http://www.bauaw.org/2009/11/bauaw-newsletter-monday-november-9-2009.html Organizer's Name: ANSWER Coalition Contact Email and Phone Number: info@internationalanswer.org , 202-265-1948 Event Description: People from all over the country are organizing to converge on Washington, D.C., to demand the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of all U.S. and NATO forces from Afghanistan and Iraq. On Saturday, March 20, 2010, there will be a massive National March & Rally in D.C. A day of action and outreach in Washington, D.C., will take place on Friday, March 19, preceding the Saturday march. There will be coinciding mass marches on March 20 in San Francisco and Los Angeles. Instead of war, we will demand funds so that every person can have a job, free and universal health care, decent schools, and affordable housing. March 20 is the seventh anniversary of the criminal war of aggression launched by Bush and Cheney against Iraq. One million or more Iraqis have died. Tens of thousands of U.S. troops have lost their lives or been maimed, and continue to suffer a whole host of enduring problems from this terrible war. Event City: Keene, Manchester, Derry and Upper Valley Event State: NH Event Location: on the public square Date and Time: 2010-03-20, 4:20 pm Event Website: http://www.420at420.org/ Organizer's Name: 420 at 4:20 Contact Email and Phone Number: webmaster@420at420.org, Event Description: The United States jails more people than any other nation—both in absolute numbers and as a proportion of the population—and the vast majority of those people are in jail for the victimless, consensual “crime” of consuming a substance that the government doesn’t approve of. Numerous attempts to pass legislation relaxing marijuana prohibition have failed. An additional tactic is clearly called for. Event City: Nevada City Event State: CA Event Location: Nevada and Broad Street Date and Time: 2010-03-20, 11 AM Event Website: http://bit.ly/cKB4N3 Organizer's Name: Peace Center of Nevada City Contact Email and Phone Number: ncpeace@sbcglobal.net, 530-265-0200 Event Description: On the same day as national anti-war marches in Los Angeles and Washington, DC, the Nevada City Peace Center will hold its own local peace march. Event City: Washington Event State: DC Event Location: Lincoln Memorial Date and Time: 2010-03-21, 2 PM Event Website: http://reformimmigrationforamerica.org/blog/march-index/ Organizer's Name: Reform Immigration FOR America Contact Email and Phone Number: sohno@immigrationforum.org, (202) 383-5983 Event Description: On March 21st, we will march on Washington, DC to demand immigration reform. Our vision of reform includes immigrants and native-born U.S. citizens working shoulder to shoulder to achieve better wages, working conditions, and labor protections. People from all across America will lend their voice in the fight for reform. We will come together as one voice on the National Mall for a strong America – for families, for workers, for businesses, and for security. Join thousands from across the country in the March For America in DC on March 21st, and demand Congress act NOW to pass immigration reform and move quickly to put all Americans back to work. Event City: London Event State: England Event Location: Olympia National Hall Date and Time: 2010-04-14, All Day Event Website: http://www.dsei.org/confront-counter-terror Organizer's Name: Disarm DSEi Contact Email and Phone Number: info@dsei.org, Event Description: DSEi is the world's largest arms fair, held every other year in East London. Protest the counter-terror expo and its exporting of violence around the world |