I am a Patriot.
I believed Thomas Jefferson when he said -- "Dissent is the highest form of patriotism."
I am a Patriot. Because I love my country, I make it my solemn duty to oppose and dissent when necessary.
I believed Thomas Paine when he said --
"It is the duty of the patriot to protect his country from the government."
I am a Patriot, and I will oppose and dissent to protect my country from being harmed by my government. My government must never run unchecked.
I believed Abraham Lincoln when he said -- "America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves."
I am a Patriot and I believe the greatest danger to our freedoms are ourselves. I will oppose and dissent to protect these freedoms, I will protect my country from the government when it attempts to remove these freedoms.
I believed Theodore Roosevelt when he said "Patriotism means to stand by the country. It does not mean to stand by the President."
And Abraham Lincoln when he said -- "Our loyalty is due entirely to the United States. It is due to the President only and exactly to the degree in which he efficiently serves the United States. It is our duty to support him when he serves the United States well. It is our duty to oppose him when he serves it badly."
I am a Patriot, and I stand by my country. My President is only worthy of respect when he serves us. When he attempts to remove our freedoms, it is my duty to oppose him.
I believed Samuel Adams when he said --"If ever time should come, when vain and aspiring men shall possess the highest seats in government, our country will stand in need of its experienced patriots to prevent its ruin."
I am a Patriot, and will not let the government be a tool for power and money. The government shall always be for the people. I will oppose the government, I shall oppose every man, from the dogcatcher to the president, who attempts to subvert it.
I believed Edmund Burke when he said --"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."
I am a Patriot, and I shall not shirk my duty. I will be ever vigilant, and oppose my government. Those not questioning, those flying the flag while doing nothing are as guity themselves.
I believe that good men and women have died for standing up against evil. I shall stand up, regardless of the risks.
I believed the students of the 'White Rose Society' who died to state these words in WWII -- "Then we must risk it anyway. It is our duty to demonstrate that man's freedom still exists. Sooner or later the cause of humanity must be upheld, and then one day it will again prevail. We must gamble our "No" against this power that has arrogantly placed itself above essential human values. We must do it for the sake of life itself--no one can absolve us of this responsibility."
I am a Patriot, and my duty is clear. Our freedoms and values exist because of one thing. It is not by supporting my government, it is not by supporting my president. It is by opposing them. And I shall do it unceasingly. Because I love my country too much to see it destroyed.
If you are a Patriot yourself, then act. Oppose those in power. Even small deeds are good. Send this letter to others, or write your own. Wear your patriotism on your sleeve, or a white rose in memory of those brave people who died defending freedom. Talk to others. But always state and remember, "Dissent is the highest form of patriotism."
[Note]... This is kind of a first draft. It is written to directly approach the framing of opposing the government (and republicans) as treasonous. I view the opposite as true. If Democrats are to succeed as a party, we must oppose blind nationalism in favor of this true patriotic dissent. More importantly, if America is to survive, then we must do this.
edited... added link.. changed quote.. " Because I love my country, I make it my solemn duty to oppose and dissent when necessary".. changed 'the' government to 'my'