We Need Ron Paul.And in the next four years we will get him.

The only time the country is united is when it faces a disaster. It shouldn't be that way but unfortunately, it is. Do we need more disasters so that we can be united? Lawyers eat each other alive in the court room, but they have lunch together. We hypocritically "agree to disagree" but then we assassinate each other's character and integrity. We shoot first and ask question later.

Defending the right to dissent is patriotic. There is nothing patriotic about dissent for the sake of dissent.

This topic is the definition of partiotism, besides serving your country--regardless of the political crap that may be behind a war. If you are serving in the military, active or inactive duty, you are doing the ultimater sacrifice and partiotic duty. Now, debate for improvement of the general welfare is always overlooked because it comes in the form of dissent most of the time. And people who speak out against the president, Republican or Democrat have that right, should not be labeled as unpatriotic, and even at times of war dissent is not necessarily a bad thing--but maybe quite the opposite. I would rate respecting the Constitution as the most patriotic, but with the plethora of interpretations of its meaning, the bypassing of using it as of lately with the current administration, I choose not to place it as the most patriotic. Though its our living document, which is amended at times--not lately though--it might be more divisive than a testament of unification. With that said, it does deserve US citizens utmost respect when respecting it and the rule of law. I just feel debate and dissent is what democracy and patriotism is truly about--other than serving your country. Without it, we'd be fascist/communist, with limited liberties, and a Constitution that would be null and void b/c the poeple's lack of "indirect rule" through representatives. Anyways you put it, patriotism should always be intended for the betterment of our nation, maybe not politically, but socially.

You don't appreciate this unless you have lived without it. This is our birthright as Americans. Bush will not shut me up!

This is the one so many people don't get.

One must possess a very keen insight into the true history of our Revolution, Declaration of Independance, Constitution, and Bill of Rights. To hear the conserv- atives, present day, turns my stomach into gastric revolt! Our country was cemented in REVOLT. John Locke kindled the sparks of the most LIBERAL doctrine the world had ever seen. For a conservative refuses to believe that the people governed must first and foremost, give their consent to governed, that those elected to govern the people,posess some agenda not in the spirit of the masses, must be defeatedby the electorte, and if Government fails to respond to the demands of the people, revolution is not only justified, but demanded by our founding fathers. Radical, Liberal i.e., Change must take place ??? DUGH ! Being UN-PATROTIC is to live in ignoranced, stubity and base lazziness. If you cannot read english, get someone to read it to you!! In closing my Query to the religious conservative moral majority, Can you find any authority, excepting Farwell, that our Founding Fathers were Christians? They accepted Christ as their personal Savior? Do you really give a damn.The greatest liberal of this world is Christ, if you understand the definition!!

I'm no radical, but at times dissent and debate can be the right thing, and might be the patriotic thing to do. It just depends on the circumstances. It's what this country was built on.

Debate is good, separation is bad. Todays landscape is one of divide. Its a constant battle over whos right, not about progress of ANYTHING. I think weve crossed that line of debate, we are moving in two different directions that will eventually tear us completely apart and in the long run cause our destruction. Thats an unfortunate reality. We need to come together and have constructive debates.

I think conservatives and liberals alike should debate and dissent to make the country better. People that call me un-american because I oppose some of the things the current administration are doing have no concept of what being patriotic is.

i'm all for dissent. but i dont care to make the country better. i'm looking to see it fall, like Rome.

No person or group of persons makes the right decisions all the time. Issues should always be debated, discussed and questioned. I think it is supremely patriotic to be open-minded about change because change is inevitable, and is sometimes good for all of us. Change helps us to mature and to learn. Following your government, or any type of power or authority in rigid lock-step without questioning the veracity or objectivity of their decisions and practices is unpatriotic.

Debate brings out ideas and knowledge that previously might not have been known, and puts them in a forum where people can think about them and decide which is best. Without this openness of information, we are restricted to ideas which haven't been tested and therefore might be flawed. I for one, can't see any reason why acting off of bad or incomplete information would be a good thing for our country. Dissent goes hand in hand with debate. When the government makes a mistake or acts upon bad information, it is our responsibility to force accountability, remove any lies or flaws, and petition for redress for injustices. If we don't exercise out freedoms for ourselves by doing our part to change the country (in all regards, not just our selective or favorite ones) for the better, we cannot call ourselves worthy of this freedom, nor can we truly call ourselves Patriots.

Exactly what the founding fathers wanted us to do. They'd likely be disheartened by the popular jingoism that dismisses all such behavior as un-American when in reality such dogma and tyranny over thought was exactly what they had battled so valiantly against.

Well, of course this is the best course of action to take in a civilized society. Which begs the question, why is so little reasoned debate occurring?

Debates are an excellent way to excercise your American rights. But too often is the word change associated as not only something positve (which it often is) but also something liberals do. As a result liberals often are incorrectly given credit for the postive changes in America. It's important to remember that both sides of the political spectrum contribute to the advances of the United States, and that is what means to be patriotic.

Isn't that what our forefathers did? We should do it too!

Exactly. Being patriotic, IMO, does not mean just putting flags on your car. A true patriot does engage in debate about our nation's future, does question our leadership and does what they can to make our country better. That's true patriotism.

All of us on this website believe in this concept, although, amidst all the verbal anarchists, it is sometimes hard to see the positive effect exchanges like this can make. Hang in there, you patriotic Americans, and celebrate your right to free speech. UPDATE: Now, Iggy, why you gotta be like that? Give me two good reasons to vote for Kerry(the first is he's not GWB, is there a second?).

Disagreeing agreeably is a potent way to change. Make your voice count with a vote while you're at it.

The most wonderful form of patriotism that is unfortunately under severe attack in our day and age. Question the present administration and you might find yourself in trouble. . .Jefferson would be ashamed.

Yes, what makes us great is the fact that we banter, bitch, and hammer out solutions when we encounter problems.