What’s Un-American- Dissent, Disruption, or Denial?

We seem to have blurred the line between boastful dissent and denial of freedom of speech. Is it ok to yell at a politician? You bet it is. Our resolve on positions can really get the juices flowing, and when we come face to face with an opponent it’s easy to get emotional, and raise our voice while trying to make a point. Is it disruptive? Sure, but it’s still democracy in action.

So shouting at politicians is as American as apple pie, but that’s not what happened at these town hall meetings. Conservative Republican leaders have another agenda; they want President Obama to fail. They see health reform as his “Waterloo”, and they’ve rallied to make these forums an opportunity to reject the administration. It had little to do with health care. They would deny Americans health reform that will benefit everyone because support would be an endorsement of the administration, plain and simple.

Yes, some people are genuinely concerned, and they shout and yell at these meetings, but there was another organized group at these town hall meetings. They were organized to deny the politician a chance to speak. Dissent and disruption is not un-American, but organized denial of freedom of speech and assembly is an un-American and shameful action.