"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: 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 Event City: Philadelphia Event State: PA Event Location: Peace Rally at Independence Mall, Rain or shine, 6th and Market Streets Date and Time: 2010-04-22, 12 Noon Event Website: http://nptwalk2010.wikidot.com/earthdayphilly Organizer's Name: Brandywine Peace Community Contact Email and Phone Number: , 610-544-1818 Event Description: Honor the Earth: Abolish Nuclear Weapons. Unite and Act for a Nuclear-Free Planet! With Earth Day speakers and special guests Event City: New York City Event State: NY Event Location: Gather for rally at 7th Avenue south of 41st Street and march to the UN at Hammarskjold Plaza. Date and Time: 2010-05-02, 2 PM Event Website: http://peaceandjusticenow.org/wordpress/day-of-action/ Organizer's Name: Peace Action Contact Email and Phone Number: , Event Description: OUR OBJECTIVE: To mobilize grassroots support for nuclear disarmament towards a real solution at the UN 2010 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review during May of 2010. Join us for 90 minutes of speakers and performers from around the world to carry the message: No Nukes, No Wars, Fund Human Needs, Protect the Planet. Speakers and musicians include the mayors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki – Mayor Akiba and Mayor Taue; Nadine Padilla, activist addressing uranium mining in Native American communities; Kimura Hisako, survivor of the atomic bomb in Hiroshima; Raed Jarrar, Iraqi blogger and political analyst; Maryam Shansab, Afghan activist; Pierre Djédji Amondji, Governor of the district of Abidjan in Ivory Coast; Tatsumaki, rock band from Nagasaki; The Recipe, spoken word duo from Kansas City, MO. Assembly for the rally will begin at 1:30 PM. The lead contingent (7th ave between 41st and 42nd Streets) will include international organizations, youth & students, labor, veterans and military families, and immigrant organizations. General assembly will be on 7th Ave south of 41st. Event City: Brooklyn Event State: NY Event Location: Brooklyn College, 2900 Bedford Avenue, at the Brooklyn College Arts Lab and Student Center Date and Time: 2010-05-15, 12 Noon - 5 PM Event Website: http://brooklynpeace.org/events/peacefair2010/index.html Organizer's Name: Brooklyn for Peace Contact Email and Phone Number: peacefair@brooklynpeace.org, 718–624–5921 Event Description: Over 100 community organizations. Music. Art. Poetry. Dance. Film. Hip-Hop. Spoken Word. Workshops and Discussions. Kids’ Activities. Info on Peace and Justice and More. Event City: Cities everywhere Event State: Worldwide Event Location: See rideofsilence.org to find a ride location for your community Date and Time: 2010-05-19, 7:00 pm Event Website: http://www.rideofsilence.org/main.php Organizer's Name: RideofSilence.org Contact Email and Phone Number: , Event Description: On May 19, 2010, at 7:00 PM, the Ride of Silence will begin in North America and roll across the globe. Cyclists will take to the roads in a silent procession to honor cyclists who have been killed or injured while cycling on public roadways. Although cyclists have a legal right to share the road with motorists, the motoring public often isn't aware of these rights, and sometimes not aware of the cyclists themselves. In 2003, Chris Phelan organized the first Ride of Silence in Dallas after endurance cyclist Larry Schwartz was hit by the mirror of a passing bus and was killed. Event City: Lompoc Event State: CA Event Location: Vandenburg Air Force Base at the intersection of Highway 1 and California Boulevard Date and Time: 2010-06-05, 1 to 3 pm Event Website: http://nuclearabolition.org/vandenberg Organizer's Name: MacGregor Eddy Contact Email and Phone Number: macgregoreddy@gmail.com, 831-206-5043 Event Description: Protest the test launch of an InterContinental Ballistic Missile from from Vandenberg Air Force Base to Kwajalein in the Marshall Islands. Part of international ICAN nuclear abolition day. |