Dissent should not be equated with patriotism
You know there are often-repeated quotes which seem to be accepted as truth by most people when, in fact, their truth is debatable. One such quote came to my attention the other day which I completely disagree with. I disagree with it because it is being used to validate mean and disagreeable behavior. It seems to be empowering weak people to be selfish and to not care about the rights or feelings of other people.
The quote I refer to is attributed to founding father and former President of the United States Thomas Jefferson, though scholars have failed to verify that he actually said it. Here it is……….. “Dissent is the highest form of patriotism.”
Whether actually uttered by Mr. Jefferson or not, that quote is being used today to justify bad and disrespectful public behavior. Of course, it doesn’t matter to these people what I think. The fact that I disagree only brings these people further satisfaction. Well, I can tell you it brings me no satisfaction at all to think of what careless harm to others these people will be answerable for when the final accounting takes place before their maker. But I suppose even that comment will be laughed at by them.
For those blessed with reason who might be reading, I will put forward this comment to illustrate my position.
All last week we were spectators to the events leading up to the AFC Championship Game in which the New England Patriots and the Jacksonville Jaguars battled each other to be one of the two teams in the 52nd NFL Super Bowl game. Each day we heard the boasts and trash-talk of the Jacksonville players claiming they were already assured a place in NFL’s Ultimate Contest. From the Patriots we heard none of that. They would talk about how they planned to play the game and if they referred to their opponents at all it was only with a respectful comment that they were a good team whose many talents should be respected.
Even after the Patriots won the hard-fought game they had nothing but praise for their opponents. I was proud to be from New England and have my general geographic area represented by these gentlemen who acted with class in every respect.
Trash-talk, as it is called, is a distraction at best. It does not win games or give players who engage in it any edge. It is founded in hate and disrespect, and neither of those two things are good for human beings in any level of life.
• This brings me to my disappointment over the many protests seen across the country over the weekend. We heard a lot of people say that if women ruled the world, it would be a better world. Such words are divisive and destructive to progress. Some think women are better than men. I think some women ARE better than some men at SOME things. All people are individuals with incalculable worth, even though some choose to degrade themselves by joining others in a selfdestructive mob mentality.
I also think most women, in general, are smarter than the comments made by many of the hateful protesters. I think most women and most men know that separating the sexes is great fun for those attempting the separating, but that it has never improved society before and it likely never will.
Dividing people into groups which offend each other NEVER moves society forward, it only slows down the progress we would all enjoy if we would work together on the problems we all face.
• I’ve told this story before, but I feel I must tell it again. When my paternal grandmother died, she was a retired Master Carpenter. Her husband, my grandfather, raised my father. Yet, there was no feminism in our family, no sexism at all. No jokes. It was what ‘worked’ and readily accepted by all, even in the shop where she had worked. My grandmother had a skill others didn’t have and she made a good living with it. My point is I can tell you from experience that it can and does happen, and it works, despite what the protesters would have you believe.
It worked because serious people tended to the serious business of life and not the entertainment of public discourse. The serious business of life is contributing your talents to society and raising a family. Putting food on the table and voting for leaders. nd once those leaders are elected, let them do their jobs without having to duck words and obstacles you are throwing at them. Yes, even if you don’t agree with their decisions.
Have women been oppressed? Yes. Have men been oppressed? Yes. The cry should be, “Shame on those who oppress!” The call should NOT be, “Shame on all of our opponents because some in that group have oppressed.” Let’s get it right, folks.
My grandmother learned her trade as a carpenter during World War II. When the war ended, she was kept on to work because of her skill, not because of her gender. THAT is the way it is supposed to work. I submit that it WILL work that way if men and women together are allowed to act as equals without one side trying to beat the other.