06/21/2003 Archived Entry: "No justice, no peace!"

In these times, there are a few slogans that could stand to be used a bit more often, and with greater clarity. Some of the more obvious picks are: "No justice, No peace", "No one is free while others are oppressed", and "If you want peace, work for justice". Another one that is applicable now is "I love my country but fear my government", if it is used to describe Iraqis under Saddam rather than Americans.
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Some of the protesters attempt to confuse the issue by saying things such as "dissent is patriotic". The truth is that dissent as a class is neutral, and must be judged on its merits. The content of dissent is defining, not the fact that it is a minority position. It is possible for it to be patriotic, or to be unpatriotic. "Britain should take over America again" is certainly dissent, but it does not fall within a reasonable conception of patriotism. Patriotism is love of one's country, and respect for the government to the extent that it is good for the country. In America, the government is good, and respecting it is a component of patriotism.

Some of the same people who say "dissent is patriotic", and "I love my country but fear my government" seem to think that an American-led war against another government must amount to a war against the people that government governs. In reality, is only necessarily true when the government in question is representative of the people. When the government has largely different aims than the people it governs, it can be opposed without opposing the will of the people. Protesters in America understand this when they speak of opposing the US government. This understanding would be well applied to what has been done in Iraq.