The Dissent Deceit

cwo_ghwebb · 07-12-2008, 06:34 AM

WE all have irritants that make us want to reach for the revolver. One of mine is the bumper-stickerization of the American mind - the reduction of our hard-won freedom of political speech to slogans that substitute for vision.

Parrot-talk on policy infects both ends of the political spectrum. Extremists like things neat and simple. But, these days, tape-loop talk has reached epidemic proportions on the left. Rational debate? Ain't going to find it at that MoveOn fund-raiser.

Worst of all, the most enduringly popular slogans tend to be either dishonest, misattributed - or just plain dumb.

We've all heard humorless America-haters promote themselves by announcing, As Thomas Jefferson said, "Dissent is the highest form of patriotism."

The first problem with that self-righteous bull is that Jefferson never said it. On the contrary, he warned of the dangers of political dissension carried to extremes.

The earliest traceable provenance of the slogan goes back to an obscure 1960s lefty who just made it up (long before activist-historian Howard Zinn commandeered it).

Very funny!

THE DISSENT DECEIT - New York Post

07-12-2008, 06:34 AM	#1
cwo_ghwebb No Use for Donk Twits Member Since: Jul 2005 Location: Costa Rica bound Posts: 8,866	The Dissent Deceit WE all have irritants that make us want to reach for the revolver. One of mine is the bumper-stickerization of the American mind - the reduction of our hard-won freedom of political speech to slogans that substitute for vision. Parrot-talk on policy infects both ends of the political spectrum. Extremists like things neat and simple. But, these days, tape-loop talk has reached epidemic proportions on the left. Rational debate? Ain't going to find it at that MoveOn fund-raiser. Worst of all, the most enduringly popular slogans tend to be either dishonest, misattributed - or just plain dumb. We've all heard humorless America-haters promote themselves by announcing, As Thomas Jefferson said, "Dissent is the highest form of patriotism." The first problem with that self-righteous bull is that Jefferson never* said it. On the contrary, he warned of the dangers of political dissension carried to extremes.* The earliest traceable provenance of the slogan goes back to an obscure 1960s lefty who just made it up (long before activist-historian Howard Zinn commandeered it). Very funny! THE DISSENT DECEIT - New York Post Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter Add post to Facebook __________________ Admittedly, all of the above is a product of my deep-seated and virulent racism. /sarcasm Last edited by cwo_ghwebb; 07-12-2008 at 06:42 AM.
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