The Right of Dissent in America

                                            “The Right of Dissent in America”

During the late 1960’s, our nation nearly came apart at the seams. Dissent and protest sprung up everywhere. Not only was the authority of the nation questioned by its young, the very legitimacy of our system was challenged by millions of the disaffected. And still our democracy prevailed. One hundred years earlier, during the horrific American Civil War, our nation had been tested even more severely. And still our democracy prevailed.

In both struggles, the polarity of opposing factions was complete. There was no communication, except confrontation. Neither side would budge from its ideological fortress. The “opposition,” from both sides of the spectrum, was reviled, dismissed and called many names. Each side thought of the other as “un-American.” Does any of this sound familiar?

Many times, during the last several decades in the political arena, I have found myself in ideological firefights with an opposition that was assured of its moral rectitude. I learned early and often that “truth” is sometimes a function of perspective. What I hold as gospel, you may dismiss as ridiculous and vice versa. What do we do then? Do we hit the barricades with rifles and mow down anyone we identify as “enemies?”  It didn’t work so well in the 1860’s. I don’t think it would work so well now either.

 I was raised and educated, to believe that dissent in any form is acceptable. People were “entitled to their opinion,” no matter how much it differed from mine or anyone else’s. Not only the rhetoric of our founding fathers, but the documents by which we rule this nation, lay out certain rights and freedoms that are entitled by law to all American Citizens. We might all reflect on these basic rights for a time before we try to deny them to our “opposition.”

         And as for understandable questions of “interpretation,” that is why the elaborate system of our courts was created. The founding fathers knew that, from studying a long history of English Common Law, a system of checks and balances was required to reign in precipitous actions by government. In a nation of our size, with many, many diverse peoples, socio-economic groupings and multi-cultural traditions, there are going to be continuing societal frictions. The American way is to deal with each in turn by legislative or judicial action, using as a guideline the documents laid out in our United States Constitution.

         Throughout the last two centuries, any number of societal inequities in America have been resolved and ameliorated by this cumbersome process. It may be slow, but it is orderly and seen as fair by our citizens. Our relations with far eastern nations have also taught us another useful principle in resolving disputes. It is the concept of “saving face.” Always leave the opposition some room to make a graceful retreat from any position. It makes current negotiations flow more smoothly and also sets the ground rules for future conflict resolution. Otherwise, both sides are apt to dig in their heels and fight until there is nothing and no one left to argue. 

         I think everyone here in America needs to take a step back and rethink what America means to them. We also have to learn to cut “the other guy” a little slack, considering what things look like from his or her side of the argument. No one of us is ever right all of the time. We need to listen to what the stakeholders in America have to say. This isn’t being “philosophically wishy washy.” It is merely an attempt at rational solution solving, in situations where emotions run high and tolerance is an admirable yet fleeting concept.

         The United States of America is one of the foremost democracies on the planet. It is a place where generations of immigrants have found a refuge on our shores. Our families have been the beneficiaries of her largesse. Etched on the base of that marvelous, copper-coated statue of Lady Liberty, in New York Harbor, are inscribed the powerful words of poet, Emma Lazarus. “Give us your poor, huddled masses, yearning to be free.” It is a signpost that she holds high with her torch, a message to the world of who and what we are as a nation.

         May the good Lord bless these United States of America and see her through these difficult times, so that her children, and those who come after us, will inherit the magnificent society that two hundred and forty years of patriots have created here.

                                                        -30-

                                                 (760 words)

                                         Joseph Xavier Martin