Typically, disagreements are less intense than dissension because they are less personal. Disagreements also tend to be amongst equals, both parties share the power, passing ideas back and forth. In a democratic society, people often have disagreements. Opposing politicians may debate over government regulations, or whether Democrats or Republicans are best at keeping the country safe. However, both parties listen to one another’s arguments, even if their ideas are not aligned. On a smaller scale, parents may disagree on whether to send their children to private or public school; both parents want the best outcome for …show more content…
The parties no longer listen to one another, and there is no longer a balance of power. Sometimes, people take their dissent outside societal norms. People may take out their anger in physical ways; often violence is the result. For many years, the black community complained that police wrongfully harmed innocent African Americans. These complaints from the minority went unanswered, inflaming anger and hostility towards the majority. Michael Brown’s death, and the subsequent riots, is an example of dissension. When citizens feel isolated and marginalized, they find a way to even the playing field. Dissension is more personal than disagreement; this means that the individuals are concerned about their physical, social, or economic security. However, there are instances in which dissent does not end in violence; some protests remain peaceful, but the dissenters are still minority voices. An example of a non-violent dissension is when the Highland Park High School’s principal was fired and the students lead a peaceful protest against the more powerful superintendent. Ultimately the protest did not change the decision of the authorities, but the students protested for their minority voice to be