Blog #48 – Free Speech during war time?
During the Great War, the United States went to great lengths to stop people from expressing their views on the war and the draft. According to historian Sean Dennis Cashman, Wilson that war “required illiberalism at home to reinforce the men at the front. We couldn’t fight Germany and maintain the ideals of Government that all thinking men shared…once led into war, [Americans] will forget there ever was such a thing as tolerance” (505).
– Why should we get into a war that we have no interests in? This is only about European colonialists, not U.S. interests;
So Wilson and Congress together got tough on this kind of anti-war talk and anti-draft interference w/ the Espionage Act of 1917 and the Sedition Act of 1918. The Supreme Court affirmed that we do NOT have the right to free speech as long as it creates a “clear and present danger” (much like yelling “FIRE!” in a crowded theatre like Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes jr. so eloquently phrased it in the 1919 court decision, Schenck vs. U.S.). Under these acts, a person can be fined up to a max of $10,000 (almost $200,000 in 2012 dollars) and given a 20 year sentence for interfering with the sale of war bonds or the draft, or saying anything profane, disloyal, or abusive about the government. Obviously, these laws violate the 1st Amendment.
A speech like this one by Eugene Debs is the kind of thing that got him in trouble and thrown in the big house:
“Wars throughout history have been waged for conquest and plunder. …theworking class who fight all the battles, the working class who make the supremesacrifices, the working class who freely shed their blood and furnish theircorpses, have never yet had a voice in either declaring war or making peace. Itis the ruling class that invariably does both. They alone declare war and theyalone make peace. They are continually talking about their patrioticduty. It is not their but your patriotic duty that they are concernedabout. There is a decided difference. Their patriotic dutynever takes them to the firing line or chucks them into the trenches.”
*Debs was sentenced to jail for this speech and while in jail ran for President under the Socialist Party for which he received almost one million votes in 1912 and in 1920! Website for Debs: http://www.eugenevdebs.com/
1. I think that the action of questioning the government’s actions when in war time Is completely derogatory and shouldn’t be practiced. Of course the idea of questioning the war is the right of your own opinion, but when It becomes a problem and starts to effect things around you, and the war that’s when it must stop. I believe that you should keep these things to yourself. When you start publicly flaunting your Ideas and boycotting the direction of the nation, when the government is sending people over to FIGHT, it has a sense of demoralization on the soldiers. When you think about what motivation would the Soldiers have to fight if the public at home is rebelling against the war. The DEFINITION of patriotism is giving up yourself for the country, and when the country needs you, you have an eternal duty to serve. The duty or the debt you are into the country is tough to comprehend by some… You owe the country whatever it asks from you… The country was the one that gave you an opportunity at a life and a chance of a dream. Some may argue that an 18 year old boy, who was born in the country, is not in debt to the country because his parents were the ones who took the “American Opportunity.” You have the duty to do this not only for your parents, but for the country as it gave you a place to live, and possibly an education and even more. I’m trying to say that your nationalism and support for your country should be all for it, unless you have some sort of severe moral questioning of the country. But even under situations like that, you should shut up until tensions die down (No pun intended).
2. I feel that the public has the right to be informed on CERTAIN, tactics and information on the war. But the idea that the government has the indirect duty to hide some things from the public should be understood by citizens. If the government had released every minuscule detail and confidential tactic by the government, ideas would spill over to other countries, Was patterns would be detected, procedures could possibly be handed over to enemies, The Public may not be READY to hear the news, and MOST IMPORTANT of all They don’t release certain things to the public to ENSURE the safety of the public. As certain knowledge that the citizens may have acquired if released could be very traumatic and problematic in NUMEROUS senses. But certain things should be hid from the public, but certain things that are harmless and have minuscule response should be released. And if released it should be post-war or towards the end.
3. This line of questioning that was exhibited by people during the war is justified but makes them unpatriotic and shows the lack of nationalism in the country (this would change). They are justified because like Debs had a lot of support behind his speech of Working class, and how they are being subjugated by the government. But it still makes them unpatriotic, because of the circumstances of the country. Due to the fact that the country is in a full-fledged war, the outbreak by the public should be suppressed and not expressed. It ruins the integrity as nation, and the idea that we are for the government’s actions in Foreign Policy, At the point in time where we are in a middle of a war, it makes you very unpatriotic. People should be willing to go overseas and fight not stay at home and questioning the actions of the government.
1. If you were unable to question your country’s conduct during war time, not only would Comedy Central go out of business, but all of the great war movies would have never been made. Can you imagine a world without Dr. Strangelove killing us all, Will Ferrell impersonations of George W., or Private Ryan being saved? Question your country is fine as long as violence is not involved. The reason it’s fine is because it is human nature to ask questions. It’s also human nature to give answers that are not always truthful. A country controlling what its people think could lead it to being, heaven forbid, a communist country.
2. Our government should just say why have decided to go to war and not sugarcoat it. If our government stopped giving us B.S. answers, we would be fine. Things such as war tactics, torture systems, and special operative’s names (like the men and women in Seal Team 6) should not be released until they’re outdated. The only statements that our government needs to release are, “why we went to war?”, and “did we succeed in the mission?”. The only thing that Republicans and Democrats can agree on is denying what everyone knows happened. Every politician from John McCain to Carl Levin agrees that “we never tortured anyone to try and find Bin Laden” and that “we never gave a bad guy a Lamborghini”. The equivalent to those statements is OJ Simpson claiming he did not kill his wife and her boyfriend.
3. Questioning your country during wartime is unpatriotic in the sense that the answer might make you dislike the government. The only way I could see this becoming an issue is if someone tried to over throw the government, which is nearly impossible now. Free speech is fine as long as it does not lead to violence.
I think it’s okay to question your country’s conduct during a war because as a citizen of that country you are obviously going to be concerned. I don’t think it’s okay to go to extremes and go crazy about the things your country is doing because obviously the people that are deciding to make these decisions know what they are doing, or they wouldn’t be in that position to make that decision. People should have the right to question what their country is doing though. During a time like war it gets scary and people are going to freak out and think that nothing that it happening is good for them but they need to accept what is going on and not question it so much. I think asking questions about how the war is being conducted is okay in certain circumstances. If you are wondering about the moves that are going to be taken then I think it’s okay to ask. But asking about tactics shouldn’t be allowed considering you never know who they are telling about these things. I do think it’s okay to ask about the goals and if they are being met because those goals can affect the citizens of the country at war. I don’t think asking makes you unpatriotic it only makes you a concerned citizen, which shouldn’t be something to be ashamed about. I can see how it could be seen as unpatriotic but I think it is being patriotic when you are concerned for your country and if you want to be involved in what is going on. The people asking these questions are people who may love their country the most. Asking questions about the conduct of the war is normal, it’s something that people do now and it will continue. It doesn’t make anyone less patriotic or more against their country. These people are just concerned for their country and their safety.
1. I wartime, a country should be able to determine the boundries, of what the people in there nation can say, wether it is good or bad, and there are two main reasons why. One, the countries own belifes, and how they like to rule there country, could be different for everyone, and second, is that the serverity of how many people are against and for the war. In the event of a war, thing will tend to change in the participating countries. One main example of this, is when Abraham Lincoln suspended habeus corpus, during the civil war, to keep people from converting the border states to the confedrates side. When more than half your country is against the war, they would have a bigger influence, to get people not to join the war, making it crucial to moderate what people say about the country and the war. but if there was only a small amount of people against the war, then the country would have to worry less.
2. In some caseses these questions should have to be answered by the country, but if the answers would cause, catastrophic effects, on the the country’s war efforts, then they might have to withhold some information. We can see this in two up blockbuster films, Argo, and Zero Dark Thirty. Both about confidential, war efforts that were later released, and used some frowned upon tactics, that couldnt be released, that in the end ended up saving lives for the country. Thes are some main examples, that show it all depends on the situation, and that every scenario is different from the next.
3.When questioning your country and asking what is “Ok”, during wartime could be frowned upon by some peopel in the country, it is all based on your political views and your belifes personaly. At this point in the world, people want to be up to date with all the knowledge about everything that they can learn, so they can give their input and try to shape their own country, but some countries might frown upon such questions during war time, but when you live in a country with as many freedoms, as we Americans have, (besides Will S.), it is always based on personal preference on what you want to learn about in the country, unless the government feels that such questions should be detrimental to there efforts in the national society.
In general, I believe that people do have the right to protest things during war in the United States of America. But, there are definitely be certain restrictions set on this. For example, people should not be allowed to interfere with business related to the war while protesting because that is a threat to national security. For example, you can not slow down the production of munitions at a industrial plant.
1. I believe that questioning your country’s conduct in times of war is okay, as long as you are doing it in a way that you are recommending a change to your country that you think could be more beneficial. Kind of like constructive criticism. If you set out to skew the countries war tactics with no set goal in mind, then I think you are wasting your time.
2. I hold the controversial opinion that during times of war, the government does not have to share with the public specific information regarding tactics used by the army, but only because in this day and age this information could very quickly be spread to the enemies we are fighting against. But, information such as which soldiers died must be shared of course so that their families are informed and so that they can have a proper burial. Once the war is over, I do feel that the government should inform the citizens of America what was done. Otherwise, not only will the public be angry at the “secretive government” but it might appear that the government has something to hide. But hey, you never know, they just might have something to hide. I think that people who ask these types of questions are people who are selfish. They only care about gaining information to satisfy their personal curiosities without thinking of the possible future disadvantages that come from this. But I understand this. i mean everybody loves a little gossip, right? In general, the human mind constitutes a country of people that always wants information from the government.
During war, a nation sets to protect its people and make its future brighter. However, no matter how noble a cause for war, or how honorable those who are fighting it may be, it is a time of death, suffering, and grief. Of course a country needs the support of its people in order to healthily function, but to try and force its citizens to conform to an idea that their country can do no wrong is conceited. The world and what it considers right and wrong is constantly changing, so the conduct of one’s nation during wartime might be considered acceptable in that time, but it could be looked upon later as cruel. To question your country’s conduct during war is not a crime, rather the suppression of opinion and concern for the acts committed by the military is to follow the same paths of totalitarian states. However, World War II saw the U.S. helping to fight against the atrocities of Nazi Germany and the Axis powers. It can be hard to comprehend that a U.S. citizen could speak against the American soldiers who participated in the Dachau Massacre (in which American soldiers liberated the Dachau Concentration Camp and were so disgusted by the atrocities that they saw had transpired that they killed many of the surrendered SS guards) and how they committed war crimes by killing surrendered soldiers, but no matter how justified the killing war, it was stooping to a level below that with which the U.S. should strive for. People are always biased, and the same goes for the government; there are always two sides to a story. After the attacks on 9/11, it may seem ridiculous to question America’s presence in Iraq and the Middle East so as to stop terrorism, but sometimes it is those that have not been hurt that have the most fair ideas. There is nothing wrong with questions the acts of a government during war, because that holds on to the integrity of the nation. Questioning a war effort does not make one unpatriotic, rather there should be a fear of an excess of nationalism, that with which often leads to war. No matter what side of the argument a person is on or how bigoted or extremist they may seem, a government trying to enforce patriotism on its citizens by disallowing thoughts deemed “unpatriotic” is at danger of succumbing to the “easy way out” of suppressing the basic freedoms of its people.
1) I think questioning your country is okay, that’s how changes are made that better lives. However, in times of war, questioning war time conduct often leads to blaming, and soldiers are often the ones that get blamed even if they are acting under orders. If you are complaining about soldiers following through on a government policy that was passed, then no, that’s not okay. If you are complaining about the government policy itself, then by all means, complain away, maybe even start a petition to get it revoked, but don’t blame the soldiers for following orders.
2) Certainly it should be questioned if goals are not being achieved, because if goals are not being reached, people sacrificing their lives are becoming worthless. But if the tactics used, torture, waterboarding etc, are getting information that can save lives, no matter who those lives are, then I don’t think civilians can say much about it. Civilians just can’t know what being at war is like, and I think as such, we can’t say too much about what goes on there, provided that we are achieving what we set out to do. If we AREN’T achieving our goals, THEN we can protest and demand change, because at that point, change is needed.
3) It does not make you unpatriotic, because no country, no entity, is perfect. Questioning the government leads to change, potentially revolutionary change. War time practices have changed dramatically, even just between the two world wars. Triangular trench blades were outlawed by the second world war because they caused wounds that would not heal. However, as I have stated above, if the methods are not creating a genocide and getting results, as civilians untested in war, I don’t think we can question war time practices. Some things are best left to those who know what they’re doing to sort out.
1. In my opinion, questioning your country’s conduct during wartime is absolutely okay. If we choose to blindly accept and support every decision our government makes, progress and reform will never occur. By standing silent about important issues such as war, we diminish the effect that democracy can have and prove that the “ruling classes” do control everything, while in reality, the people themselves can make a difference. Obviously there should be a limit to this freedom. Simply questioning your country’s decisions is fine, but violence or interference with the draft or with the sale of war bonds is not. Also, complaining about the war is annoying and pointless if you don’t have reasons and rational thought to back up your opinion.
2. As citizens of our country, I believe we have a right to be informed about our country’s actions at war, and I believe that the government should support this. However, I can understand that certain tactics cannot be revealed in cases of national security. I can also see how the attitudes of the military and of people at home can be very different. What seems scandalous to us at home is a necessity in order to get the job done for the military. Releasing these potentially scandalous details is a lot easier when the people know that the end result has been accomplished.
3. Questioning your country during wartime is not unpatriotic. Patriotism is an abstract concept; patriotism means a different thing to every American. Many would say that it would be unpatriotic not to be informed about the motives of the war and not have an opinion about it. Or, it’s unpatriotic to not exercise the right of freedom of speech. I’m sure that many people who opposed World War I thought that they were being patriotic, since they wanted to stick with the traditional American foreign policy of isolationism. Their patriotism prioritized our country’s ideals over our country’s leaders and the choices they made. Other people thought they were being patriotic by backing our president’s decision to go to war and abandoning isolationism. I would say that it’s fair to call both groups of people patriotic. Patriotism is not celebrating every single thing our country does; patriotism is doing everything we can to make our country better.
1. I do think that it’s okay to question your countries conduct during a war because the first amendment gives us that right and everyone is entitled to their own opinion. For example, during WW1 I think that the espionage and sedition acts were unfair and that the postmaster general should not have had the right to look at people’s mail. There should be some restrictions on protesting war though because it is our job to show some support for our country and the soldiers fighting. For example, I don’t think that anyone should express their opinions violently or in any way that would offend people.
2. I do think that the public should be informed on what’s going on regarding our country during war time due to family members that may be fighting or just curiosity in general. I don’t believe however that the public needs to be informed on everything that happens. We have specially trained soldiers and leaders for a reason and we have to trust them to figure out the most efficient way to not only loose as little American lives as possible but also to get the job done. I don’t think that losing American lives is ever good and if we could resolve issues without it that would be ideal but unfortunately that’s not possible most of the time and those soldiers get to die fighting for what they believe in as well as helping the American cause.
3. This line of questioning is okay in the sense that you can have your own opinion and think what you want about political issues but it’s wrong in the sense that you should support your country and the government during war. The decisions that are made directly affect everyone in the country and rather than complain you should figure out ways to cope.
I believe that questioning your country’s conduct is perfectly fine. I think that this is one of the principals upon which our country is founded. It is a government “by the people, for the people”. If the people aren’t happy, they should be allowed to say so. During a war, the question is raised whether or not it is safe for a bunch of negative comments to be raised. I believe that it is fine. As we saw with yellow journalism, the U.S. public has a large influence on whether or not the government decides to go to war. I think that if people are allowed to show propaganda supporting the war, the opposing side should also be allowed to show propaganda that questions the war. Precautions should be made, however, to ensure that this negative energy does not spill over into violence. Furthermore, questions about the way that the war is conducted and about tactics used should also be allowed, as should questions about whether or not this is all worth it. It would be as if the American public was being fed a bunch of lies and one-sided information if no questions were allowed. If the American public is being shown accurate information, they will be able to make the most accurate assumptions, and as was mentioned before, the public has a huge influence on the government. So, if they have this power, they should be given accurate information. I do not think that questioning makes you unpatriotic, quite the contrary is true. Becoming an informed citizen will make you even more patriotic.
During wartime, questioning your country is acceptable if not necessary. If citizens did not question the government’s actions, the government would get the correct impression that they can make irrational decisions without being questioned. Thousands, if not millions, of lives rest on the decision of going to war or not going to war. A single group of people, in this case government officials, should not make such a high-stakes decision without hearing the voice of the people being led into war. It is bad enough that American citizens cannot choose whether or not they will participate in a global war, why take away the only way of expressing the feelings of those who actually go into combat or see loved ones go into combat?
Lives should not be taken from those who do not truly understand for what they are fighting. However, a public knowledge of torture methods and tactics would become a global knowledge of torture methods and tactics. If the enemy knows what tactic America is going to use, then the tactic is worthless, and not really a tactic as much as an announcement. Telling the public American tactics would be like telling your friend where you put your ship in Battleship. Although the general public should have limited tactical information, they should know clearly and honestly for what they are fighting. They should be updated on the statues of the war (like if goals are being met), because people should have an idea of when the war will be over. Otherwise, the country is submerged in a state of war that seems endless, and motivation decreases when the task at hand seems endless. The kind of questioning that I stated in answers one and two are not unpatriotic. It is patriotic to exercise your right to participate in government and express your doubts about the war through your freedom of speech. The people who are being unpatriotic in this situation are government officials if they deny the public knowledge that they deserve to know.
Hello all, to me, in my incredible opinion, is that taking away our right to protest which is protected by freedom of speech is like taking our right away from voting for a sports team. From the background in which ive been raised in is that we use our words not your fists. To me, war is just as unnecessary as pink hair. No one really wants it but it makes people look “cool.” To not be able to question your own damn countries actions just shows you that the government at that period of time does not care about the common peoples voice in this nation. Ironic enough, we are a democracy and if the power is not in the people then where the turkey shintzelles is it? Just because someone says that “america is greedy” or something along those lines does not mean i am not a supporter of the great country of America. People say things, that is our nature but that does not mean we should be tortured or prosecuted. America is built on its reputation and pride for our nations history but we did not become a world power by insulting the people that make that very country a world power. The three questions are unfair, insulting and rude to the people of America. If our nation wants to become even better than questioning itself is good. In order for us as a nation to improve then there must be disagreements between the people and the government. During wartime though, it is different but it should be limited to an extent. I believe speaking your mind is okay but doing it as a prevention of war using violence is a huge no. If it does not physically interfere in the war then it should be allowed because some people like me disagree with war as itself. No lives should be lost in order to gain world power status. That is a rap buddies.
Jeremy
1. I think any citizen of America should support the government’s decisions during wartime, of course you are allowed to your own opinion, but openly voicing that is just wrong and not fair to all the soldiers fighting for our safety. During WW1, how the government handled this situation was not ok. I think they were doing too much by fining people and putting them in jail for up to 10 years, that is a bit extreme. Personally I feel a sense of duty to my country because it truly is a land of opportunity and I have been very fortunate in my life, and part of this is because of the country I live in. If we were to go into a world war today, I may not be its biggest fan, but I certainly would stand by my country and not openly criticize the government.
2. I think asking questions about how the war is conducted isn’t necessarily wrong, because people have a right to know some things, but it is definitely not fair to ask about things that the government feels the people shouldn’t know. I personally don’t want to know everything the government does because some things would be so shocking that the general public wouldn’t feel safe, especially in today’s world with all the technology the government has. I get that people are just naturally curious, but people need to have some respect for the government and not ask questions that the government doesn’t want to give an answer to.
3. I think wanting to know things is normal, especially during wartime, but again some people need to learn to keep their mouths shut and trust that the job will get done. I don’t think it makes you unpatriotic, in some cases it may be patriotic to be concerned about how certain things are going, but when it gets to the point of being questions that are extremely out of line such as the tactics/methods being used, then it becomes unpatriotic.
1) You should always question your country, especially during war-time. This questioning can lead to beneficial ideas, such as anti-war efforts, and peaceful rallies against the war. These might help decrease the amount of lives lost in the wars. Even if the questions you make to your country are unpatriotic, you should still think, for it can help to broaden your mind and your countries mind. People have a guaranteed right to free speech guaranteed by the First Amendment in the Constitution, to not use this amendment wisely, is to go back to the ways of Britain during the 1700s with Taxation without Representation.
2) These questions are also worth the lives of the men and women fighting in the war. When the tactics used in the war include torture, and violence, I believe that there is a moral reason to question the war effort. These tactics show that the US is being corrupted by the power it has over countries and that it is using its power in unjust ways. Also, if the goals are not being met, there should be serious questioning on the reasons for going into war. If there are no goals met, one would think that the government lied to us, just so they could take over one part of the World. One example is President Bush and Iraq, while there was support in the beginning because of 9/11 and the “nuclear, chemical and biological weapons” in Al Qaeda’s possession, when it was shown that we were torturing and killing innocent men and women in Iraq and Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, we went from supporting the war to being radically against the war.
3) All in all, this line of questioning is okay. This questioning actually makes you and your country more patriotic because the more you question your government, the more peaceful and less prideful you government becomes, which leads to better relations outside and more patriotism inside. There should be nothing wrong with this line of questioning, and the Espionage Act should be repealed for going against the 1st amendment.
1. Questioning your country’s conduct of a war during wartime is, in my opinion, okay. I think American citizens should know what is going on in a war. And if the citizens have a problem with it they should be allowed to speak up about it. It is not like the American people have direct say of what wars are to be fought when. That being said, their opinions should not be too much of a problem. If anything it may be beneficial to congress or the president. If the American people absolutely the way a war was conducted and there is a great number protests, then perhaps they should either reconsider the war or use it for future reference on the next war.
2. Questions about the conduction of war should be allowed to be asked by the people, but they do not all necessarily have to be answered. For example, when it was found out that the government was water-boarding prisoners of war, many Americans were upset. So either that information should not have gotten out or it should not have happened. Americans do have the right to question tactics their country is using in war if they disagree or are uneasy with. If people do not believe in what their country is fighting for, maybe their democratic government should take that into consideration.
3. This line of questioning does not at all make someone unpatriotic. I believe it makes you more patriotic in a sense. You are exercising your right as American. Disagreeing with what is going on the in country, especially if it is your friends and family being forced to serve is not a problem. If we could not say anything bad or question our government, the great American democratic ideals are not so great.
1. I believe that questioning your country’s conduct is okay, to an extent. I believe questioning your country is criticizing and should be treated that way. What i mean by that is you can say what you want about or to the government, but once it becomes verbal attacks, then some action should be taken. For example, let’s say that you somehow have a friend, and this friend proposes an idea they came up with to you. You think its a bad idea so you tell them its straight up just bad, or you insult them for which they now hold a grudge against you and dream of all the ways they will exact revenge on you for ruining their dreams. That’s kind of what i’m saying in a nutshell. You can say what you want about the government, but once you start verbally attacking them and saying bad things, thats when action should be taken. And that should happen only during war time.
2. I think we do have the right to ask questions about how and why our government functions the way it does or some of the actions it takes. Otherwise, we would just let the government do its thing and let it control us more than it is now. If we weren’t allowed to question the government then the whole protest over Vietnam War would have never happened. When government makes a bad law or decision, it’s the job of the people to let them know it’s bad and change it. It’s the peoples job to change the government when it becomes corrupt. That’s written in the U.S. Declaration of Independence. not word for word, the writers wrote it better than i did, but it’s there.
3. Like i said above, I believe this line of questioning is okay to an extent during wartime. actually, now that i think about it, that does sound hypocritical. What i’m trying to really say is that you can question the government, but you can’t yell ” FIRE” in a packed movie theater.
1. War has its drawbacks and its benefits. I wouldn’t say it’s essential to everyday life. Life can go on without war; life can go on with war. War benefits some, and hurts others. Some war is unnecessary, some war is necessary. You could also argue that war employs millions of people. It employs soldiers, marines, sailors, pilots, and guardsmen. It employs defense contractors, engineers, etc. But then you could also argue that war is detrimental to everyday life. It leaves people widows, turns wives into professional worriers, abandons children, kills innocent bystanders, and affects the reputations of the countries involved. Therefore, I believe that it is more than acceptable to question your country’s demeanor during war because your country’s behavior affects you and everyone else within it (including loved ones fighting). Consequently, we have the right, as citizens of the country, to be concerned and we should question it.
2. I believe that some of the questions should be answered because, as mentioned, every citizen has the right to know what’s going on throughout the wars but I think that knowing every little detail about the war will start controversy and should therefore not be mentioned. As long as whatever the country doesn’t know doesn’t hurt them in the future. Some questions should be left unanswered to avoid confidential war strategies to be revealed. Also, if the country knew about some of the military/torture tactics being used, it would scare them even more. We could easily avoid all of that drama.
3. I would disagree with questioning being “unpatriotic” because being concerned with what’s going on with your country doesn’t mean you aren’t dedicated or you love your country less. If anything, I believe it make you even more dedicated to your country, as opposed to someone who doesn’t care about what is happening with their country and loved ones.
1) I think it is great to question presence in any war, war isn’t a minor thing, and it costs the people fiscally and physically. War has some serious consequences regardless of the outcome; you will have to pay for it. People may think that questioning a war is unpatriotic, I believe it’s just the opposite, in America we have rights that protect us from punishment for questioning or actively protesting something, and in the documents that our country is based on it states numerous times that the government it for the people, so isn’t it patriotic to speak your mind regarding any issue the country partakes in. Also, it tells me when a government tries to prevent negative comments about war its hiding from something, maybe embarrassment or, law breaking or really anything that anyone would find against the country’s morals.
2) I also see no wrong doings in questioning the methods of war the country uses, especially when it’s American citizens fighting away from home. Also regarding morals, the country’s and the people’s, if the military is doing something morally unjust the people should be able to change that and speak against it. Again, if the country is banning negative statements they’re hiding something, and as a nation that is supposed to be transparent that’s trespassing the people’s rights.
3) I have no reason to think that protesting a war is unpatriotic, it might not be helpful or being a team player, but using your rights to protest, is more patriotic then sitting around clueless to the truths of the war. These issues make me question what being patriotic means so I looked it up and it means a love for your country, but that fuels the argument more, it’s obvious that anyone feels a love for their country when they’re so concerned with its direction they question it, I mean if frankly you didn’t care about your country, you wouldn’t question anything about it. So I believe any form of political activism for reform show a great love for your country, it shows that you want to change something to better your country, which I believe is the most patriotic thing you could possibly do.
1. I personally believe that questioning your country’s conduct during wartime is perfectly okay as long as it is peaceful and people aren’t being harmed. The first amendment gives us the freedom of speech which also allows us to protest. Suppressing this right is a violation of the Constitution; in a democratic government you should not only hear about the side that the government wants to hear, especially when the government is forcing this side to be the only one heard. When this kind of a thing is happening the government is much less a fair democratic one and closer to a tyrannical one. Questioning your country’s conduct in wartime is perfectly fine as long as you aren’t causing people any physical harm or causing great civil unrest.
2. Asking questions about how the war is being conducted: the tactics being used, how our goals are being met if they are being met at all, or whether the sacrifice of all the young men and women’s lives are worth it. All of these questions should be able to be asked by the American public. We as people of the greatest democratic country in the world have a right to know how our money is being spent in wartime and how the most important resource of all is being used, people. We deserve to know how our men and women serving are conducting themselves during the wars and whether or not the sacrifices they are making are too great and could possibly hurt the future of our country.
3. This line of questioning during wartime is definitely okay; it does not make you unpatriotic to question how our country conducts itself in war. It isn’t unpatriotic because many times when we are at war it is not for protecting our nation: it is for helping other countries revolt or to protect them from non-democratic powers that pose a threat to them. The wars themselves aren’t patriotic; being patriotic is supporting our country but if the wars aren’t even for us then how can we be patriotic by supporting it? I think that, depending on the war, questioning our conduct in these ways is actually more patriotic than supporting the war.
1.Questioning your countries conduct during a war is a common topic of discussion, and it has been argued over since the Civil War era removal of the Habeas Corpus clause. I honestly think that if the war is declared, or is inevitable with the country, you should not be able to protest. In American history, the last war that we declared was World War Two, so all battles after that were imperialistic fights for recourses, or for their “protection”. Since it wasn’t declared, and they were probably avoidable, the right to fully express the first amendment is included. If a war is seen as unfair or unnecessary by the public, they should have the right to nonviolent protest. If the protests become violent, I believe that’s where first amendments should be taken. If the act of expression, in any way, puts others in harms way, the government has rights to throw them in jail, without trial, for up to ten years. A life sentence is too extreme, but the right to a trial is reserved for criminals who actions can be argued for and against. You cannot argue for murder. If the cause is the loss of human life, why counter it with more losses? On a more social level, if the war is unpopular with the public, as most wars are, the war should be protested, even to test if the people really have power. The government should comply with the people if they protest, because otherwise the people may riot.
2.Curiosity runs rampant through the minds of American people. Even before social media, we have always wanted to be in the know of what’s going on, it gives us a false feeling of control. We should be given the right to ask questions, if background checks are allowed as well. If the person asking about the forms of torture is say, a terrorist, they could spread this information to places where America could be harmed in some way.
3.This form of questioning does not make you unpatriotic. The quest for knowledge is an American concept, and the more we know about what’s going on in the government, the more we may be able to find ways to improve the methods they use.
1. I think it is alright to question your country’s conduct during a war as long as you don’t take it too far. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and should be allowed to talk about it with other people. They should be allowed to debate their thoughts with others. It should however be stopped when it goes too far. If it turns into a protest that interferes with the war effort and starts interfering with things around you it should not go on. Too much negativity and protest could hurt the nation and be demoralizing for the soldiers. Going to fight for their country is hard and they risk their lives for it. Protesting what they are doing can cause them to not try as hard. A protesting country does not motivate the soldiers very much, and motivation is what the soldiers need. Giving up yourself for your country is not an easy task, and that is what the soldiers do. So, I believe that one should allowed to talk about their opinion nicely since everyone has opinions about things, but if it goes too far it should be stopped. Protests can come with serious consequences. For example, they could turn violent and could have devastating effects on the war effort.
2. I believe that the citizens of the country have the right to know certain things about wars, but I don’t think they should be told everything. They should be told the truth about what is revealed and just not mention what they don’t want revealed. Everyone should know the real answer to why we went to war, because that is just an important fact for people to know. Knowing the true reason for going to war could stop many people from speaking out against the war effort. I don’t think that everything should be revealed though. Things about the tactics being used should be kept quiet though. If they told us everything, people would talk about it and read it online and other countries would be able to find out our tactics, and his would be bad. It is in a way safer for the public if they don’t reveal everything, yet the public does have the right to know the reason why we went to war.
3. Questioning the war effort is unpatriotic since it could bring you and others around you to disliking the government. Although the ideas are unpatriotic, they are justified and supported by other people. During a war, people should be willing to go and fight for their country, they shouldn’t be protesting against it. I feel that that is very unpatriotic.
1. I think questioning your counties conduct during a war is ok because if it affects you, then you should have every right to question it. And I think the first amendment should protect this kind of speech also, which is what Eugene, in Eugene Debs vs. The United States, was trying to say. But I also believe that you should have faith in the people you vote into office. Or at least a little more faith than some of the people during this war had. This is really why having a democracy is so important. We want the right people making the right decisions for our country.
2. I guess in my opinion, I would like to know how the war was being conducted, but only so I could know what was going on in the war and everything that could be done, was being done. Although I can see how telling the public about how it was being conducted could cause some serious problems. I am sure there would be some people who would just totally disagree with how things were being done, and then there are the people who would just totally disagree with having the war at all. But I don’t think that not informing the public about the details of the war are putting the soldiers’ lives at any more of a risk than they already are. I think it all goes back to trusting the people that we voted into office.
3. I think that whether you question war conduct or don’t, you are still just as patriotic. If you question it, it shows that you care for your country and the decisions that it makes. It also shows that you think about your country and want the best for it. If you do not question war conduct, it shows that you have faith in your countries leaders and believe they will make the right decisions. I believe you definitely do not have to question your countries actions in order to be patriotic.
I believe that citizens should be able to question the war and put in their beliefs, because it is not the governments war, but the peoples war too. Although the American population is not directly asked on their input of whether they want to join or start a war, the war is supplied and brought to life by the American people. This includes all the troops risking their lives, the weapons made at home, and the attitude of the war. If an American citizen has to go to war and risk their lives for their country, or a citizen has to lose a loved one in the war, I think that it should be ok to express ones opinion about the war. The citizens of America have to risk a lot when going into war, like the comfort of one’s home, and the least the government can supply to its people are their basic rights.
Questioning your country’s practices during wartime, whether it is torture or questioning if the war is worth the cost of their citizen’s lives should also be allowed during wartime. This is because the people have a right to know the process of the war, and what provisions and precautions are being made. The process of war is not just a governmental procedure, but should also take into account the beliefs of the people.
This line of questioning is okay during wartime because the citizens should have the right to question the actions of the government. The citizens who follow this line of questioning are only expressing their freedom of speech, a right given to them by the bill of rights. Questioning the government leads to change and if the majority of citizens want to change the way the government is running the war, they should be able to make these changes under the principle of democracy.
1. I think that questioning the war itself shouldn’t be a problem. The fact that civilians have no say over declaring war added to the inability to express an opinion on said war seems to me repressive and very undemocratic. Stating ones opinion on a war and their own thoughts on whether or not the United States should be involved in it is a matter of personal opinion, and people should be free to share their opinion, even during wartime, as they share their other opinions. I think, however, that discouraging others from joining the war out of personal opinion rather than the opinion of the other person is crossing the line. There is a difference between stating one’s own opinion on something and trying to change someone else’s – only then does it become truly harmful for the country.
2. Again, I think that people’s opinions on war – war, which they have no control over – should be protected. The decisions of the government will never be the decision of every person in this country, and those who disagree should not only have but retain the right to question these decisions, even during wartime. Uneducated and harmful opinions broadcasted during normal time in our society is protected (such as the Westborough Baptist Church, as we have discussed in class) yet during wartime an educated and well thought out opinion risks the wrath of the government. Which is not to say that there will not be the same sort of moronic offender who does not respect the opinions of others or give any sort of rational statement to be taken seriously – this will be found in any issue. But I think unless they are outright attempting to manipulate the beliefs of others, what they say should be protected.
3. Questioning the actions of the government – let’s be honest – looks unpatriotic. Why would you ever question your country? How can you say you love your country if you disagree with it? Right? Well, I think that’s wrong. When we’re children, we’re all taught after a fight with a friend that we aren’t always going to agree on everything, even with the people we care about the most. I think this carries over to a love of one’s country. If you love your country but don’t agree with everything it does, that’s okay; in fact, that’s HOW IT SHOULD BE. I think contrary to the belief that questioning your country’s decisions makes you unpatriotic, NOT questioning these decisions of which you do not agree makes you unpatriotic. It does not mean that you love your country any less. In fact, through some lenses, it could be said that you love your country MORE, because even if you think some of their choices are wrong, you still love your country as a whole? Patriotism and nationalism go hand in hand with disagreement. If you never question what your country does, not only does that make you very naiveté and shallow-thinking, it decreases real love of your country, and instead makes you too spineless to know your own mind.
I believe that questioning the country’s conduct during wartime is completely reasonable of the people of that country. People deserve to know the truth about what is going on around them, whether it directly involves them or not. Is there any direct harm in questioning what your country is doing? I understand the fear of unpatriotic riot that would have interfered with WW1. But even the government should understand that you can’t stop people from having opinions and sharing them. If anything, they should pay attention to what the public has to say – some valuable information and ideas could be gained from listening to other people’s opinions. If anything starts to get out of hand, then the government can say that whatever the people are doing is not safe for the country and intervene. But even then, people should be able to ask questions about what’s going on. In America, people always want answers – but if we don’t get those answers, rumors or lies tend to take the place of the unknown truth. What’s worse for the country: people wanting answers to completely relevant questions, or people making up answers that could endanger the country and the people in it? There’s nothing unpatriotic about asking questions or critiquing answers during wartime or any time. Many times, the questioning of actions comes after the action has already occurred, which doesn’t do much damage. If anything, reflecting on the country’s actions is the only way for the country to grow and learn from our mistakes. I think that the paranoia that the government during WW2 had was unnecessary, but I can understand why they passed the Espionage and Sedition Acts. Patriotism was one of the few things that drove our country to victory several times throughout history. But I still think that questioning the things our country does is important and completely OK. Just because someone doesn’t agree with something the government does doesn’t mean they are unpatriotic or anti-American. Disagreement is a part of society that will never go away no matter what government does to hinder it.
1. In my opinion, there is a fine line between questioning your government’s MOTIVES for war and questioning your government. I don’t think that it’s unpatriotic or unacceptable to question your country’s conduct in regards to a war as long as you have all the information before hand. It’s important to know all the facts before you start making assumptions and those assumptions turn into questioning and judgments of the governing body. It’s also crucial to look at things from the perspective of the government. Sometimes it’s easy to overlook details or reasons to go to war because you are personally opposed to it, or don’t understand the full scale of the problem. While it’s ok to form private questions and opinions on the war, I don’t think that these opinions should be vocalized. Speaking out against a war as citizens in extremely disheartening to the people who are actually FIGHTING in the war, our US soldiers. Instead of sitting at home and whining about how you don’t agree, I think that we should all be thankful and grateful and supportive of the brave men and women who protect our freedom. All in all, I think it’s OK to question the governments conduct in regards to war as long as you are informed and NOT taking action against them.
2. . I think that some, but definitely not all, information should be released to the public. Personally, I think that the government should adopt a policy of “the whole truth or nothing at all” when it comes to releasing information to the public. It’s important for the American people to know why we’re going to war and if we are/have succeeded, but nothing else. Think of how easy it would be for other countries to get this information if the government started doling out this information to everyone in the United States. There would be no way to control who got the information, and then other governments/militaries would have our top secret information. Personally, I have no desire to know what goes on behind the scenes of the military. And when you think about it, what good would informing the public on things like torture methods do? It would just make them upset, and cause MORE problems and protests against the government.
3. The debate on whether or not it is unpatriotic to question your country in a time of war is a difficult one to answer. On one hand, freedom of speech is the first human right in the constitution, and Americans should have the power to exercise their beliefs. However, speaking out against your country and the leaders of your nation really is unpatriotic and disheartening to those actually fighting the battles. In my opinion, Americans should support their country and try their best to just wait it out. Public opposition to war makes our country look like a joke (which is NOT something you want in a time of war), and in today’s times, once a war has started there’s a very little chance that public opinion alone is going to completely stop it.
1.) My personal opinion about questioning the country’s conduct while there is a war going on is that it is alright to do so because everyone is entitled to their own personal opinion. If people question the war that is going on then that is a good sign because it shows people’s concern about their home country. There are many risks with going to war because if a person’s home country loses the war, then people may have to give up things that they cherish including land and their rights. The reason that people have moved to that specific country is that they love how their land is at the time and they don’t intend on any change occurring to it. Citizens should have the right to question the country’s conduct as long as it is fair and doesn’t offend people.
2.) During war, certain goals are set up by each country to see what they want to accomplish. If someone signs up to be in the service then they will know what the goals are but the family members of that person and the rest of the country deserve to know what they are. I think that the country deserves to be able to question what the goals of the war are. The government should be able to respect the rights of the citizens to know what is going on. Even though the government can’t give away all of its information due to national security but, the government should put themselves in the position in family life because some of their loved ones are putting their lives in danger for the risk of their country.
3.) I don’t believe that questioning the war effort makes someone unpatriotic. Back in the time of World War I it was against the law to speak negatively about the war but now, it is not. I don’t think that it should have been illegal back then because according to the first amendment in the Constitution, everyone has the right to free speech. Patriotism is celebrating America for its accomplishments and a way to achieving an accomplishment is guidance and questioning.
1. I believe questioning your country’s conduct during a war is okay. If we do not do so then our country would not be able to improve and make reforms. Our country needs the people to inform them in what they think needs to be fixed and what would make things easier. If we let the government control our ideas throughout the war then it is defeating the idea of a democracy where the people have a say in certain things. One thing that I do not think would be okay is to question the country’s conduct during a war in a violent way. Protests that get way too out of hand never end well and usually do not solve anything.
2. I think the people should be informed about the war to an extent. I would understand if some of the tactics being used could not be shared because that is private government information. I also don’t think that is something that everyday people could change, unlike the government. But it is also important that the people can ask questions because we are a COUNTRY. It is not just the government and head leaders that are dealing with the war, but also the people at home. Some families might have relatives or siblings in the war or younger children that are afraid of the violence happening. I think it is only fair to at least allow the families to ask questions about how the war is progressing.
3. In my opinion, questioning during wartime definitely doesn’t make you unpatriotic. I believe it actually shows that you are VERY patriotic because of how much you care about your country. If you question what they are doing during the war that means you see something is wrong and you hope that they change it, and that your country will benefit. I understand that questioning the government is in a way bad, but if you did not care about your country you would just sit back and let the government make every decision, good or bad. Without people stating their opinions and questioning others, where would our country be? Definitely not where it is today.
1. I think that questioning your country during war time is something that should be practiced, but not exploited or used by the media. I think you should be able to have an opinion on war and the conducts of it because you are a member of the country in war. You should be able to discuss your opinions and speak freely on them, but your ideas and gatherings should not become national news. I think that people should have information on the war, but it should be very matter-of-fact. Your opinions and other people’s opinions shouldn’t be publicized nationally because it is harmful to the war effort. While skepticism and questioning are important parts of making sure your country is supporting the national interest as well as yours, nationally publicized skepticism can make a country appear weak. A country should appear strong and confident in a war, and if it is not, it shouldn’t be in the war at all.
2. Questioning the tactics and goals of the war is something that should occur because it enables the country to know what is at stake and what needs to be accomplished. This should be kept on the down low because it can hurt the confidence of the soldiers and leaders. The country should come outright to its people alone and say its tactics, goals, etc. Skepticism, comments, and questions should all be personally addressed to a Department of Public Relations during War. They comments should be answered promptly and any revisions to the country’s plan should be nationally reported but not opinioned by the national media.
3. Questioning your country during war is a way to decide if you feel patriotically about your country’s efforts in war. This is because your country won’t always have the same views or take the same stance as you do. Your country’s opinion and your own often differ, particularly in war-time, because your country and its government know something you may not know. For example, you may know that the U.S is fighting the Al Qaida terrorist organization and have been doing so for a while. Your country obviously knows the same, but they may know about the secret peace negotiations between the two sides, something you are un-aware of (this is a fictitious example but a possible one). By questioning your country and seeking information you can become decide if you feel support your country or do not support your country during certain time or event.
1. In my opinion, questioning your country’s conduct of a war is acceptable. Why is it acceptable? This question is simply answered by who we are as the people of the United States of America. We are a democracy and unlike some countries in this world, we give our people freedom to stand for what they believe in. Freedom of speech gives you every right in this situation to speak up even if what you have to say isn’t completely positive towards your country.
2. I think that the public should be informed about a war that their country is involved in but only to a certain degree. I believe that in every way possible, the family’s of a soldier in our country’s army should always be informed about how their loved one is doing. Although, I do not believe that the public who isn’t related to someone fighting in the war should be informed about certain details. For example, lets say that during a war the U.S. is fighting in, the enemy says that they are going to bomb the U.S. but the army has it under control and the chances of it happening are very slim. In a situation like that I believe that the public does not need to be informed due to the fact that all it would accomplish would be worrying the citizens.
3. I do not see questioning during war time would make someone unpatriotic. If anything, it might make someone patriotic for wanting to know more about their country. In most situations, questioning things can turn out to be a positive solution and every citizen in the U.S. has their freedom. If a citizen wants to question during war time, it does not make he/she unpatriotic nor is it not allowed.
When it comes to war, there are sometimes no rules. A country may commit things that are not well received at home. The right to voice ones opinion, whether right or wrong, should be protected. Though the opinion may not be in favor of what the country is doing, it still deserves to be heard just as much as those opinions for the country. If we start to take away rights such as freedom of speech in certain circumstances, who’s to say that, other freedoms won’t be stripped away in other circumstances. The Amendment does not have a section that says void under…, it just simply says. Now if that opinion is taken in a violent sense and affects or harms other people, then it needs to be stopped. However, these types of opinions are few.
Questions are a natural occurrence in life. WE were born curios. Wanting to know things about the war doesn’t seem like a huge request and besides, no one is saying that they all have to be answered. The questions may favor those against the war, but they are then just opinionated questions, which can receive opinionated answers. Not being allowed to ask questions is hindering a big part of life. Everywhere you go and in everything you do someone will question if it is right. If you want to you can stop and defend yourself or just carry on not listening. Would our country still be a true democracy if the people could no longer be heard?
Having an opinion against the war is not a bad thing and it doesn’t make you any less American. Maybe you just hate violence or consider the affairs of the war not our problem. Having an opinion just means that you have the power to make a decision on your own, not just simply agree with something because your government does. If you are a girl, but dislike the way that girls act, does that make you any less a girl? It’s picking on the one who’s different. Just because someone has another opinion doesn’t mean they are any less a person.
1. Is questioning your country’s conduct during a war o.k.? I think that it is okay to question your country’s conduct during a war because it states that in the 1st amendment that we have the freedom of speech, allowing us to say what we want. But one thing that I think wasn’t right was during WWI when the espionage and sedition acts were placed in action where that allowed the postmaster generals to read through the mail of the people.
2. Should asking questions about how the war is conducted, about the tactics being used (torture, waterboarding, etc.), about how the goals are being met (or if they’re being met at all), or is it all worth the sacrifice of all the young men and women’s lives? I think that it’s okay to be questioned if things ends aren’t being met, because it’s then pointless for our men to be in war, risking their lives for what reason? Tactics like torture, and waterboarding are useful in some cases, like when information is known and it’s something that we need to know that could possibly end wars, but I don’t think that the people really have a say on what is going on. If the military isn’t making ends meet, then I think it’s okay for the people to protest and ask for change.
3. Is this line of questioning during war time o.k. or does it make you unpatriotic? Why?
I think that this question is one of those questions where there is no exact answer. In someways, yes it does make you unpatriotic. Why would you question the people that are fighting for you have the rights that you have today? But then again, no, again, we have the 1st amendment that says we have the freedom of speech. I don’t think it’s okay for people to go around and slander the military system. American citizens should appreciate what the military is doing for our country.
1. In my opinion, it is perfectly acceptable to question the actions and conduct of your country during a time of war. As a citizen of a democratic country, I should have the right to question the actions and goals of my country no matter what the circumstances are. As long as my views are presented appropriately, such as a peaceful petition not inciting violence, there should be no issue in expressing what I feel would be best for the country.
2. Citizens of a country should have the right to ask about, and know all of these things. After all, the money funding any of America’s wars comes directly from the pockets of the citizens. If we as citizens believe the cause is not worth it, or if there is no cause at all, it is not worth the cost of huge amounts of casualties. The citizens should have the right to question these topics because it is their money, and themselves who are being drafted to serve in the war.
3. Asking these questions is perfectly acceptable, and in my mind makes you even more patriotic. As long as the ideas are expressed appropriately you should have the right to say what you think would benefit the country the most. You would be unpatriotic to avoid the draft even though you don’t agree with the war, because it is your duty as a citizen to fight for the good of the country. Disagreeing with the government over the issue of war does not make you unpatriotic. You are voicing your opinion as to what you think would provide the best future for the country. By asking these questions, you are defending your rights that our country is based on. As long as your opinions don’t cause harm to others, and are what you believe is best for the country, asking these questions do not make you unpatriotic.
1. In my opinion, questioning the country’s conduct during wartime can sometimes be acceptable, as sometimes the government can make irrational decisions. For example, in 2002, Vice President Dick Cheney made an effort to connect Saddam Hussein to the September 11th attacks, as to give the United States a reason to declare war on Iraq. Cheney claimed that Mohamed Atta (one of the 9/11 hijackers) made contact with an Iraqi official in Prague five months before the September 11th attacks. Cheney (along with George W. Bush and Donald Rumsfeld) also claimed that Iraq was harboring weapons of mass destruction. However, no documents were brought forward to validate the supposed meeting between Atta and an Iraq official along with Iraq harboring weapons of mass destruction. Although it was necessary to go to war with a Fascist Islamic leader like Saddam Hussein, other U.S. senators (along with British Prime Minister Tony Blair) would have preferred to go to war with Afghanistan (Al Qaeda haven).
2. Questions about the tactics being used should be conducted, as some forms of torture should be explained. On a personal note, I once heard a man ask another man “What do you call terrorism in the name of Christ?”The other man answered “Counter-terrorism”. They both laughed. I laughed myself, as some political leaders who are very devoted to their form of Christianity (Such as George W. Bush and Dick Cheney) strongly support forms of torture such as waterboarding to punish the evil in the “name of God”. Personally, I don’t completely object to waterboarding, as it has proven effective in obtaining useful information. However, it should be reserved for those who have committed the most atrocious acts. In my opinion, the aspect of a devout Christian like George Bush supporting something like waterboarding relates to the idea of terrorism in the name of Christ being Justice, or counter-terrorism. I feel like political leaders can get away with a lot of other “crap” in the United States by saying they are doing it in the name of “God”. What I am trying to say is that people cannot say that there cause is completely just if they use forms of torture such as waterboarding (as I said before, I am not against waterboarding completely, however, I do not attempt to justify the act by claiming it is in the name of “God”)
3. Questioning your country during wartime is acceptable and not unpatriotic. However, on another personal note, I think it is easy for me to say this as I have lived in Australia (a more progressive and leftist nation) for a few years in addition to being away from American culture and influence of American patriotism for a few years. Although it is not foolish to be proud of your nationality, you should not blindly agree with your countries actions one-hundred percent of the time.
1. In my opinion, questioning the country’s conduct during wartime can sometimes be acceptable, as sometimes the government can make irrational decisions. For example, in 2002, Vice President Dick Cheney made an effort to connect Saddam Hussein to the September 11th attacks, as to give the United States a reason to declare war on Iraq. Cheney claimed that Mohamed Atta (one of the 9/11 hijackers) made contact with an Iraqi official in Prague five months before the September 11th attacks. Cheney (along with George W. Bush and Donald Rumsfeld) also claimed that Iraq was harboring weapons of mass destruction. However, no documents were brought forward to validate the supposed meeting between Atta and an Iraq official along with Iraq harboring weapons of mass destruction. Although it was necessary to go to war with a Fascist Islamic leader like Saddam Hussein, other U.S. senators (along with British Prime Minister Tony Blair) would have preferred to go to war with Afghanistan (Al Qaeda haven).
2. Questions about the tactics being used should be conducted, as some forms of torture should be explained. On a personal note, I once heard a man ask another man “What do you call terrorism in the name of Christ?”The other man answered “Counter-terrorism”. They both laughed. I laughed myself, as some political leaders who are very devoted to their form of Christianity (Such as George W. Bush and Dick Cheney) strongly support forms of torture such as waterboarding to punish the evil in the “name of God”. Personally, I don’t completely object to waterboarding, as it has proven effective in obtaining useful information. However, it should be reserved for those who have committed the most atrocious acts. In my opinion, the aspect of a devout Christian like George Bush supporting something like waterboarding relates to the idea of terrorism in the name of Christ being Justice, or counter-terrorism. I feel like political leaders can get away with a lot of other “crap” in the United States by saying they are doing it in the name of “God”. What I am trying to say is that people cannot say that there cause is completely just if they use forms of torture such as waterboarding (as I said before, I am not against waterboarding completely, however, I do not attempt to justify the act by claiming it is in the name of “God”)
3. Questioning your country during wartime is acceptable and not unpatriotic. However, on another personal note, I think it is easy for me to say this as I have lived in Australia (a more progressive and leftist nation) for a few years in addition to being away from American culture and influence of American patriotism for a few years. Although it is not foolish to be proud of your nationality, you should not blindly agree with your country/’s actions one-hundred percent of the time.
1. I think that questioning a country’s conduct in war can be ok or not, depending on the situation. Like for example in the American Civil War I think that it was ok to infringe on certain civil liberties, because it was a life and death struggle for the Union and there was so much more on the line, but in instances like World War 1, I don’t think it was ok, because the war didn’t put American safety on the line.
2. Honestly, I don’t think that the public has to know very much about what’s happening behind the scenes in the country’s conflicts. I think this because I feel like if the general public knows everything, there’s always going to be those ignorant stupid people that aren’t educated enough on the facts to know what needs to be done who will make a big outcry about things that they know nothing about. Also, I think that people should have some say in how the troops are being used, but they shouldn’t need to know interrogation tactics and other classified things. I think that a lot of people are just looking for things to protest in the government and they just are looking for questionable methods to point out.
3. I think that it depends on how you are protesting, to judge whether it is unpatriotic or not. For example, if you are like the Westboro Baptist Church and you picket a soldier’s funeral then I think it is unpatriotic, but if you are just having like a peace rally like they had in the 1960’s then it is ok. But, I feel that before you open your mouth against a war, you should educate yourself on the facts. Overall, I don’t care if you protest, just have some class.
1. Yes it is OK to question your country during war time as long as it’s relevant, don’t ask your country about childhood obesity when they’re in a total war contemplating nuclear warfare that just lengthens the war and takes a worse toll on the entire country. That just gives them two things to worry about but at the same time if this is a war that the congress wants to fights not caring that it is causing the deaths of thousands of young men and women and dragging it out all in the pursuit of wealth and establishing the power of the west. That is a waste and cruel and should be protested by the people because they didn’t even push for war.
2.Yes it should be OK to ask about what is happening in the wars our country partakes in. No one is just going to blindly accept a death sentence without knowing what you’re dying for or what is happening around you in the government built to protect our men and women but instead leads them to their deaths.
3.Asking questions doesn’t make you unpatriotic it makes you someone who wants to know whats happening around them built blindly accepting the things you are told without any other explanation other than patriotism is just stupid.
1. I believe that people can oppose a war or its moral standpoint but I don’t think they should be able to publically oppose it. I don’t believe that they should be able to publically oppose a war because not only does it increase a nation’s antiwar effort but it also lowers troop’s moral. I believe that if a nation’s army realizes that its own nation was against what they were fighting for it would make them perform worse and cause many problems. I also believe that the government doesn’t ever go to war for no reason ad I believe that if the government was smart enough to get a majority of congress to agree to war then they must have a good reason too.
2. I do not believe that the people have the right to know all things about war for their own protection. Like I said I my previous response, I believe that if the people knew about some of the tactics we are using in the wars that it would increase an antiwar effort. I believe that the government should have the right to keep anything they deem hazardous to a war effort away from the public if it directly affects the war. I also believe that the government should be able to do whatever they can to win a war as long as they deem it necessary.
3. I believe that questioning your country during wartime is not ok and I believe it should be deemed as a hazard against the government and should be treated so. I believe that people shouldn’t question the government because not only is it unpatriotic but it also shows a lack of support and trust in the government. I believe that people who have a problem with how the government conducts a war should either keep it to themselves or be punished if their not.
1. I believe that questioning your country’s conduct during war is completely fine. It’s not alright to let the government do its own thing while the rest of us live in this seemingly utopian society where the government’s decisions are going to help everyone. The whole point of a democracy is for the people to have a say in decisions and when we lose that right, are we even a democracy anymore? Do we dare to call America the land of the free when we don’t even have the freedom of the first amendment? There was a reason why freedom of speech is the FIRST amendment- it’s necessary. If we didn’t question the government’s decisions next thing we know we have divided into twelve districts and all join together as a country to watch our annual Hunger Games.
2. I think asking questions about how the war is conducted, the tactics being used, how the goals are being met or if the war is even worth it can be ok. I don’t think you should be arrested for asking any of these questions but we don’t necessarily need to know everything. You should be able to know if the goals are being met to give us a guideline on how well we are doing. I don’t think its right to keep us completely in the dark but the government can’t tell us everything. For example, if they told us they were planning on sneaking up on someone or had any secret war strategy of that sort, it would be all over the news and wouldn’t really be much of a strategy if everyone already knew what they were planning on doing.
3. I believe this line of questioning is fine and not unpatriotic. As humans, we can only wonder why. I mean really about anything a thought as simple as even why the sky is blue is a perfect example of our questioning nature. However, as I discussed in the second question, there is a limit to what we can know if we want to keep the war as safe as possible and are hoping to win. Also, if you believe that the war is not for a great cause- so what? Not everyone is going to agree on the cause of war. Our country cannot unite under one simple decision. Everyone is bound to have their opinions.
Personally, I oppose any type of war and feel that the countries, including the US caused wars that were totally not necessary if they left out of the other countries business. Yet if they do declare war leave it up to a deal of the government and the army going into the war. A countries conduct should never be changed in war time, especially not. The reason of why people most likely live in the country they do, is because they enjoy having their rights. America as it brags with itself tells everyone:”COme to our side. We are the Great and No on is as good as US! We will always give you freedom to speak….” and so on and so forth. If the country gives people the right to speak their opinion, especially now they should be able to and try to keep their country mates safe.
2. People have the right to know how the war is being fought and if there is any point in their friends or family being out there fighting for their death. This will also help to know how or if to demonstrate. If the war efforts are going well, goals are being met, and few or none are dying, they will likely protest less. But if they hear the army is overwhelmed and many people are dying they will fight harder and be more determined to protest against the government and the happenings in the war.
3. Questions are the way to learn. If you don’t ask questions in school you will never understand it as much as you should understand it. If the people of the New World did not question the British rule, who knows what it would be like today. Therefore it is totally humane to be questioning of anything and there is no way this makes you unpatriotic. Actually I think it maks you more patriotic. Just think of this. You are in class and feel like if you ask this one question, this moan is gonna go around the classroom and you will officially be labeled stupid, but then you or someone else does ask that question and you can here several wheew I am not the only one throughout the classroom. just think of that in terms of the country an politics and you will understand why I say: Go and question.
1. Questioning your countries conduct during a war is not ok. You’re already in the war, so if you discourage citizens from joining the effort or financing it, your words could lead to your country loosing the war. There wont be enough soldiers on the battle front or ammunition and weapons to fight. as long as you are doing it in a way that you are recommending a change to your country that you think could be more beneficial. Kind of like constructive criticism. If you set out to skew the countries war tactics with no set goal in mind, then I think you are wasting your time.
2. I believe that the American people have a right to know and understand how the wars are being conducted. If the government really wants the people to trust and believe in their cause, then the citizens deserve something to give them hope. If there are things truly graphic about the war, then maybe the government should leave those details out for the good of the people. I don’t think that losing American lives is ever good and if we could resolve issues without it that would be ideal but unfortunately that’s not possible most of the time and those soldiers get to die fighting for what they believe in as well as helping the American cause.
3. This line of questioning about the tactics being used (torture, waterboarding, etc), about how the goals are being met (or if they’re being met at all), is not unpatriotic until it reaches a certain point. If thousands of pamphlets are being distributed throughout the country to discourage the people from supporting the war effort, then that is counter productive to the countries effort and should be subdued But, if these questions are being asked because a person truly wants to know what they’re investing their time into, then sure, tell em some truths.
1. I think questioning your country’s conduct during war is something that should be allowed, but frowned upon. You should be allowed to voice your opinion, but being a nuisance and problem to the government is too much, and shouldn’t be allowed. It’s alright to want to understand the conduct of how the war is being handled, as is the peoples right in a democracy to know why their government has done what they have done. So yes questioning your country’s conduct is alright, but anything beyond that should be seen as unpatriotic and not a true American’s actions.
2. Asking about how we are conducting our tactics during a war is different. From a tactical stand point you should not need to know, but from a moral stand point people want to know if we are doing it the “right” way. You should never question whether or not our soldiers gave their lives valuably, it’s an insult and a very unpatriotic question, and should only be asked before a mission as a risk assessment, not as a statement or fact. It’s really a line between what is ok to ask and what is not, and the reasons behind why you are asking certain questions, but it’s always going to be human’s nature to be inquisitive.
3. Questioning certain aspects of the war is ok but some are truly unpatriotic and distasteful. We do not need to resort to medieval punishments for treason, but we should be allowed the answers to our questions as long as they don’t endanger others or jeopardize anything. So my final answer is that asking questions is ok, but obvious sabotage or slander of the war especially about the soldiers is extremely unpatriotic and should not be allowed to happen in a country that you call home.
1. Is questioning your country’s conduct during a war o.k.?
I believe that questioning wartime conduct is a completely necessary part of society, as long as it is with warrant. It is necessary for the American people to voice their opinion and displeasure with the way their country handles wartime situations. This is the whole point of a democracy and I feel that America has been drifting farther and farther away from this democracy by limiting the voice of the people. That being said, there are many people who outright bash on government actions with no counter-argument. An example is saying that President Obama is a bad president and is not solving the war in Iraq simply because he does not want to. I have heard this said among he Groves student body by multiple people and when asked why he supposedly does not want to solve the war, they either cannot answer, or relate the problem to an irrelevant statement, such as Obama’s religion or another similar topic. This kind of criticism without warrant is why speech has been limited in the American public. Instead of mindlessly bashing our government, we should instead give suggestions to our state governments to go up the political chain until the president sees them and considers them. For instance, we could suggest that rather than fighting Al Qeada, we should focus solely on helping the Iraqi government to sustain their country’s matters so we wont have to. We could suggest that the Al Qeada battle is one we should have here, not in Iraq. In conclusion, suppressing the American people’s voice is worse than questioning government actions.
2. Should asking questions about how the war is conducted, about the tactics being used (torture, waterboarding, etc.), about how the goals are being met (or if they’re being met at all), or is it all worth the sacrifice of all the young men and women’s lives??
I believe the American public should be given the clean-cut truth about if and how our goals are being met, but tactics and other war strategies should not be disclosed to the public in any form. I believe this because there are people among our society who would use this information against America in violent ways.
3. Is this line of questioning during war time o.k. or does it make you unpatriotic? Why?
I believe having concern for your country and its actions in the foreign world should never give you a label as bad as being unpatriotic. That term should be reserved for the people who openly condemn their country and criticize everything the country does, even if it benefits the majority of the people. As I stated before, we should avoid criticism without warrant when speaking out against a specific action of the government or expressing concern about said action. Therefore, no, speaking out does not necessarily make you unpatriotic. It simply makes you a concerned citizen, which is perfectly ok.
1. I believe that you should be able to question your country during wartime, but it might no be the smartest idea ever. If you do question the country, it might inspire some rebellion and dissent among the population, and if you truly wanted to support your country, it would be better to not be so critical of it.
2. I believe that asking these questions about our tactics are best reserved for after the war is won, for the same reasons as above. If too much questioning and dissent is spread through the country, it might spark something that nobody will want to occur.
3. I see these lines of questioning as being paradoxically patriotic and not at the same time. Asking these questions proves that you do actually care how the US goes about its wartime activities, and they also provide an insight into the type of government we are running, depending on how they respond to your questions. If the government tries to silence you, and see to it that no questions are asked, then it would seem that we have changed from a democracy to something darker. However, asking these questions also inspires those who would use them as reasons to fight the US here at home. Anarchists, extremists, and home-grown terrorism all stem from the fact that somebody has found out information concerning America’s wars and decided to release it to the general public. Such activity is never any good for our war efforts, and even worse for morale here on the home front. Perhaps it is best for the government to temporarily silence the questioning, until the danger of it passes and we can freely speak again.
1. I strongly believe that questioning our country’s conduct during any time (including war) is o.k. In my opinion, it seems too late to start questioning the country’s conduct after the war is dome and over with. and sometimes it’s too early for people to fully comprehend the consequences of a war before it has started yet. Therefore, if people cannot question their country during the war, when will they be able to? I believe a country must be questioned, prodded, doubted and supported. No country is perfect and never will be, but people need to express their thoughts so that we can get as close to perfection as possible.
2. Questioning how the war is conducted has been a controversial issue since war had first started, and as the times have changed, I feel that people’s opinions about it change too. Me, I’m torn between if the tactics are worth it or not. I oppose all of war itself, but since I can’t do anything about that, the only thing I can do so far is question the tactics. I’d like to think that the tactics are not necessary, yet at he same time I can’t see that being the case unless all sides of the war decide not to use torture. If that’s not the case (and obviously it son’t be) then there needs to be some form in extracting valuable information from the opposing team and if nothing else works, I don;t think there is anything we can do to stop torture being executed. When someone joins the war, they know what they are getting into, and also know that torture will be inflicted upon them. Even if there was a law passed banning torture, you can be sure to find people breaking it.
3. I don’t think this line of questioning during the war is unpatriotic. In fact, I think it’s quite the opposite. I feel that if you want to see your country succeed and thrive, and you don’t see your country as completely perfect yet, then it seems quite patriotic to voice your opinion in the direction and motive of bettering your county. To agree over something, to argue over something, you first need to care about that something. Not caring and letting your country turn towards the wrong is what is unpatriotic.
1. The idea of questioning your Countries conduct during war, in my opinion is okay if you’re not speaking or projecting a negative thought about it out loud. You can think anything you want; but during a time when your Country is sending young Men and Women to die for a cause, you need to shut up and support them. Just because you and a group of protesters are against the war, does NOT mean that the Congress or the President is going to stand down because of it. And to those people who are pompous enough to think that “this time they will” Dr. Phil has a quote that sums up the likelyhood of that occurance: “The best predictor of future preformance is past performance.” So if you don’t agree with America’s decision- too bad.
2. The citizens should be allowed to a certain degree about the war/tactics used by their Country. But to know all about is stupid, the Military and every branch of politics have had skeletons in their closets since the birth of the Country. I do personally object to torture, because for 1) if your torturing a terrorist, your kind of lowering yourself to his level where hurting humans is good, and 2) torture is not overall successful, in most cases the person will just blurt out false information to stop being in pain; the cycle will continue forever pain, lies, pain, lies etc.
3. I will stand firm on my decision that you cannot be judged about being patriotic or not concerning disagreements with the war unless it is in a time when Total War has been declared, then if you sit somewhere thinking that this war is stupid when the entire country is devoted to helping the people who die for our country every day. Then that person needs to get off their ass and help the war effort, and help bring back those young men and women. And if they don’t then to me, they qualify to be called unpatriotic.
Questioning your country’s conduct during war time I okay to a certain extent. Verbally bashing the government’s conduct and trying to get other people to join you is not okay. I think it is counterproductive and only adds to the stress and negative energy going around in the country. I also think it’s kind of dangerous for people to be expressing their negative opinions during a time of war because not only is the government having to deal with a war out in the world but also with a war at home and I think that is too much for the government to juggle with. I think it would cause the country to become way too chaotic. Questions should be asked as long as they are respectful and don’t stir uproar or anything. People do deserve to know what’s going on in the war but they shouldn’t be too critical or disrespectful to the people fighting for them and the country. However people should be aware of how goals are being met and the tactics being used. This line of questioning makes you unpatriotic because it shows that you do not support what your country is doing. Patriotism is devoted love support and defense of one’s country. It is when someone has national loyalty. Being loyal to one’s nation is not slandering the moves it makes and questioning its decision, especially in hard times. People should be trying to help make things better for the country as opposed to bringing down the cause. I think that citizens should just keep their negative and pessimistic opinions to themselves during war time. I think it is important to keep a nation unified during a time of war.
1) During a war some people think its important to ask questions before we rush into such violence. I think some people wish to questions the governments actions of sending people to war and wether there should even be a war at all. I think what some say in the conduct of the country is ok however there are some restrictions. I think if what your saying or boycotting is against what the nation or governments thinks then it should be kept to yourself. I personally think people should have rights to speech but sometimes people can go to far as too over saying their opinions and these opinions may not always be correct.
2) In this country we have people to ask these questions (state dept, media, citizens, and parts of the government) Our system is set up to ask questions concerning war conduct. Of course you never want to sacrifice people lives, but some decide its worth fighting for even if some lives are sacrificed. However if lives are sacrificed ordinary citizens should know what for. Since we are sending our own soldiers into war, we should have somewhat of a say on what happens to them and where they’re placed. Since the war is being fought for our country, I think its the peoples right to know why the war is fought and for what reasons, and if anything big happens during this time the people should be somewhat informed on it.
3) And lastly I think that asking questions is just exercising your rights and freedoms as a citizen. I don’t think its unpatriotic to want to know whats going on in your country. If we didn’t have any information on what was going on around us the world might be a in bit of a panic. Of course Questions government actions may be a and idea.. but simple minded questions about whats happening aren’t bad.
I think that during wartime, people should have the right to share their opinion on the war in peaceful protest, media and other forms of expressing your beliefs. I think that the government is able to make exceptions during wartime, but only if it benefits the people, economy and nation as a whole. Oppressing ones right to express themself is not beneficial to anyone, even if it may turn people’s opinion in a direction that a government is not satisfied with. As long as it is not carried out in a violent manner, people have to right to be against something that the government is doing. I think that people should always be able to question the way their country is doing things, war included.
Even when people harshly question the war, like whether or not it is worth the lives of young men and women should not be forbidden. Violence is not an easy thing for people to deal with, even when it does not directly affect themselves, their friends or their family. Most people don’t like it, and its okay for them to say so. Many wish for an alternate way to deal with conflicts, and during wartime I think it’s important for people to stand up for things they think are wrong.
It is a valid argument to say that people who speak against their country are unpatriotic, but isn’t it also unpatriotic to go against something that the nation as a whole so strongly believes in? Freedom of speech has been something that America has taken pride in for since the creation of this country. I think that eliminating freedom of speech even during wartime is not something that America should partake in. It would make us hypocrites, and would repeat the way the early colonists were treated by the British. Freedom of speech is something we’ve fought for and believed in, and to take it away even for a minute would be going against the rights of the people.
I don’t think questioning your country’s conduct during a war is okay. However, I do think it depends on the situation. For example, what if your country is torturing innocent people? I think people’s opinions matter first. If the majority of the population is for the war, I doubt that the majority of people are wrong (in most cases). If the majority of people think the war is wrong, then I think that you should question your country’s conduct during a war. Especially if it involves innocent lives being hurt. Also, you should be able to question your country’s conduct if it’s something like imperialism (for example, the Philippines. Should they be part of the United States or not).
I think asking questions is fine, as long as the people aren’t deliberately trying to get other people to join with them and do things such as boycott the war or something. If nobody in the country asked questions, then they wouldn’t get answers, and then how would they know anything about what was going on? I think being a little curious during the war is okay.
I think being patriotic means supporting your country, but if you believe something is wrong, then I think maybe you should voice your opinion. As long as your opinion isn’t hurting/really affecting anyone. Sometimes, the country is in the wrong and in that case, the people should tell them that. If you’re a patriot, but you don’t think your country is doing the right thing in war, then you should be able to tell the government how you feel. Without feedback, it’s hard to do things because you don’t really know how other people feel about what you’re doing, and so you don’t know if you’re doing the right or wrong thing.
All in all, it really depends on the situation and each person’s views. Everybody has a different opinion on what to do, and how much is too much. It’s hard to put laws on that because sometimes with laws like the Espionage and Sedition Acts, the people are right, and not the government. People should be allowed to have opinions as long as they don’t pressure anybody else. Writing letters to Congress and saying what you believe is right is okay. However, creating mobs and riots is not okay. So, it all depends on the situation.