Relayer wrote: > It seems to me that the positive side of patriotism means being able to > stand up for and support everyone's right to free speech and freedom of > expression. Isn't that what the constitution sais?That we have the right to > protest, to disagree, to express our viewpoints? I get the feeling that this > extreme form of patriotism that has developed since September 11 wants to > silence dissent, and any views and opinions which differ from the > conventional opinion of the moment-and this narrow mindedness seems to me > VERY un-American...
I don't remember anyone telling anyone not to dissent, to air their opinions, or to not post what they thought. Except someone telling Shane to not discuss the war since we here at the JMDL had decided not to do so. Saying that I feel there is anti american sentiment here does not mean that I said that anyone here is a bad american, cannot dissent, cannot voice their opinions. I used the term in the vein of against american policy and did not mean that anyone here doesn't love their country, isn't patriotic, etc. As far as narrow mindedness, I would guess that this is subjective and subject to the opinion of the poster. I don't think Mary is un-american because she posted her opinion and most certainly not narrow minded because she did so. Whether or not I am narrow minded is up to individuals perceptions and on some issues being narrow minded is not a bad thing, in my opinion. mack
