The Greatest Form of Patriotism
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Kerry on my wayward war hero

The Volokh Conspiracy’s Jim Lindgren quotes John Kerry, who, in the course of a speech yesterday at Grinnell College in Iowa, managed to cram a number of dubious assertions into an admirably compact soundbite—presumably as a way to reinforce the ignorance of the student activist class that the Democratic left so relies upon for vocal outrage:

Dismissing dissent is not only wrong, but dangerous when America’s leadership is unwilling to admit mistakes, unwilling to engage in honest discussion, and unwilling to hold itself accountable for the consequences of decisions made without genuine disclosure, or genuine debate. As Thomas Jefferson said, “dissent is the highest form of patriotism."

I will have to admit that quote sounds very profound and Jefferson could have been justly proud for uttering it if he had.

Which is not the case, at least according to The Volokh Conspiracy in

Thomas Jefferson's Love of Dissent.-

According to the Jefferson Library:

"There are a number of quotes that we do not find in Thomas Jefferson's correspondence or other writings; in such cases, Jefferson should not be cited as the source. Among the most common of these spurious Jefferson quotes are: 'Dissent is the highest form of patriotism.'

I have a suggestion for Mr Kerry.

When "Speaking Truth to Power"? (I believe that is one of the New Mantras of the Progressive Left), try to ensure that what you are saying Is true?


Am I accusing Mr Kerry of Uttering a deliberate Lie?

No

Am I accusing Mr Kerry speaking about something of which he knows nothing about?

You have a mind, what do you think.

Actually Dissent IS an important aspect of our Society, and it can have more than one direction.

Some claim to be "Speaking Truth to Power" others merely speak "Truth to Ignorant".

I am using the word ignorant in its true dictionary , not , unlearned, without moral comment. Ignorance, is in fact a curable disease.

I think I will let other voices than mine answer Kerry and his Keystone Kops on one of the Great Issues of our Times.

Someone said awhile back that the

"The moral authority of parents who bury children killed in Iraq is absolute

That claim has to rank equally with "Dissent is the greatest form of patriotism."

Without detracting from the moral worth of "dissent" or the "moral authority " parents who bury children killed in combat", I will respectfully differ.

In my eyes the Moral Authority of those who lay down their lives in combat to protect their loved ones and this Nation, is higher, and it is also a Higher Form of Patriotism than words.

Mr Kerry? I dissent from YOU.

And in to your theories about our needs and plans for the MidEast I will choose to let them speak for me.

Most of us have heard ad naseum one single quote from a Zogby Poll reported recently.

U.S. Troops in Iraq: 72% Say End War in 2006

I dare say that was the only quote you heard in the Legacy Media using that Poll as a source.

Big Lizards in That Doggone Zog Blog Hog Slogs Along presents to us a more complete list of the questions and .

Withdrawl

15. How long should U.S. troops stay in Iraq?

1. They should withdraw immediately
2. They should withdraw within the next six months
3. They should withdraw within six to twelve months
4. They should stay as long as they are needed
5. Not sure

51.4% say "immediately" or "next six months;" 72% say within "twelve months.'

This question was the lede in Zogby analysis -- U.S. Troops in Iraq: 72% Say End War in 2006 -- and in some of the stories about the poll. The implication is obvious: morale is low! the soldiers want to go home! they don't believe in the mission! they think we're losing, losing, losing!

But as I noted last time, the real question here is never answered: why do the troops think we should withdraw in twelve months, six months, or immediately? It is because they think we've already lost -- or because they believe we've won, and they take the president at his word that "as the Iraqis stand up, we will stand down?" By "withdrawl," do they mean everyone out, or do they mean drawing down the force level?

The Stars and Stripes article linked above raised this same point:

But Loren Thompson, a military analyst with the Lexington Institute, said troops who say the U.S. should withdraw could be concerned for their own safety, or they could be optimistic about progress so far, or they could simply be opposed to the idea of operations in Iraq.

?You have to pick apart each servicemember?s thought process to understand what that means,? he said. ?I think this is about personal circumstances, and not proof there is a higher rate of troops who desire departure.?

What Zogby really needed to ask is whether the troops think the mission has been successful or not, and (as Hugh Hewitt suggested) how high their morale is; that would have told us the why. As it is, we can only infer the why by looking at the next question:

16. According to recent polls, about half of Americans favor a rapid withdrawal and half favor an open-ended occupation of Iraq. Which do you believe best describes the motives of those favoring rapid withdrawal?

1. They are unpatriotic
2. They are not aware of the need for U.S. troops
3. They believe that continued occupation will not work
4. They are against use of the military in preemptive war and "nation building"
5. Other
6. Not sure

51.6% say because "they are unpatriotic" or because "they are not aware of the need for U.S. troops."

Unaware is a more polite synonym for the word I used earlier, and unpatriotic is a more polite word for others that could be used.

I will bet that few have heard this last little tidbit from the Mainstream Media,

It bears repeating with emphasis.

16. According to recent polls, about half of Americans favor a rapid withdrawal and half favor an open-ended occupation of Iraq. Which do you believe best describes the motives of those favoring rapid withdrawal?

51.6% say because "they are unpatriotic" or because "they are not aware of the need for U.S. troops."

Now THAT is what I call "Speaking Truth to Power" and with "Absolute Moral Authority", by those who DO show the "Greatest Form Of Patriotism":

Linked to

OTA Weekend at The Crazy Rants of Samantha Burns

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