Ron Paul on Patriotism - 22 May, 2007

Submitted by Bill St. Clair on Wed, 23 May 2007 23:52:12 GMT  <== Politics ==> 

True patriotism often means dissent against the state. You knew that, but Dr. Paul says it very well here.





GPO PDF transcript starts on page H5610.

I copied the whole thing to a simple text page here (linked from my index page.

Now, martial law can be declared not just for insurrection, but also for natural disasters, public health reasons, terrorist attacks or incidents, or for the vague reason called "other conditions." The President can call up the National Guard without congressional approval or the Governors' approval, and even send these State Guard troops into other States.

The American Republic is in remnant status. The stage is set for our country eventually devolving into a military dictatorship, and few seem to care. These precedent-setting changes in the law are extremely dangerous and will change American jurisprudence forever if not revised. The beneficial results of our revolt against the King's abuses are about to be eliminated, and few Members of Congress and few Americans are aware of the seriousness of the situation. Complacency and fear drive our legislation without any serious objection by our elected leaders. Sadly, though, those few who do object to this self-evident trend away from personal liberty and empire building overseas are portrayed as unpatriotic and uncaring.

...

Unsound policy can never help the troops. Keeping the troops out of harm's way and out of wars unrelated to our national security is the only real way of protecting the troops. With this understanding, just who can claim the title of "patriot"?

Before the war in the Middle East spreads and becomes a world conflict for which we will be held responsible, or the liberties of all Americans become so suppressed we can no longer resist, much has to be done. Time is short, but our course of action should be clear. Resistance to illegal and unconstitutional usurpation of our rights is required. Each of us must choose which course of action we should take: education, conventional political action, or even peaceful civil disobedience to bring about necessary changes.

But let it not be said that we did nothing. Let not those who love the power of the welfare/warfare state label the dissenters of authoritarianism as unpatriotic or uncaring. Patriotism is more closely linked to dissent than it is to conformity and a blind desire for safety and security. Understanding the magnificent rewards of a free society makes us unbashful in its promotion, fully realizing that maximum wealth is created and the greatest chance for peace comes from a society respectful of individual liberty.

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Comments (3):

patriotism

Submitted by oldguy on Fri, 08 Jun 2007 05:28:13 GMT

I'm ready to go. Just let me know when & where. The tree of liberty
needs the blood of patriots.

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Hopefully more blood of tyrants

Submitted by Bill St. Clair on Fri, 08 Jun 2007 13:51:29 GMT

Hopefully more blood of tyrants.

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true patriots

Submitted by yassin on Fri, 27 Jul 2007 21:31:58 GMT

True patriots won't give up their freedom for a CON-stitution:
http://fl0wer.net/us_constitution_and_the_founding_scoundrels

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