Analytical Essay: Patriotic Right to Criticism Criticism of one’s nation, including the criticism of its actions in war, is an essential right of every American as it’s the basis of democratic change in this nation. Several of the actions and policies enacted by the United States were due to the actions of patriotic, influential individuals who criticized their own nation. Typically, these individuals criticized the U.S. for its own betterment. However, there are others who may argue that it’s unpatriotic for an individual to disagree with their country. On the contrary, it’s really an imperative act of patriotism to criticize one’s country if it regresses as real-world examples frequently display throughout the course of U.S. history. Unfortunately,
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Zinn paraphrases an American Socialist named Charles Schenck, who argued against the enforcement of the Espionage Act. In the infamous Schenck v. United States Supreme Court case, he argued that his arrest was unconstitutional and a violation of the first amendment. He had been arrested for distributing fliers, which were used to discourage draft inductions during WWI. Unfortunately for him, and democracy, the Supreme Court had struck down his appeal, stating that his words could be considered a “clear and present danger to life and liberty” (1). Even several years after the conclusion of this case, the Espionage Act is still in effect, making it a “dangerous threat to American freedom” …show more content…
and Malcolm X were both patriots when they “openly criticized the U.S. for segregation and its position in the Vietnam War” (7). Mr. King stated that the U.S. government was “the greatest purveyor of violence in the world today.” Malcolm X, on the other hand, criticized those who were obsessed with patriotism and the war, affirming that people should “not be so blinded with patriotism that they can’t face reality…wrong is wrong, no matter who does it or says it” (8). Similarly, the boxer Muhammad Ali criticized the United States for both its segregation and its position in the Vietnam War, refusing the draft when he
Zinn paraphrases an American Socialist named Charles Schenck, who argued against the enforcement of the Espionage Act. In the infamous Schenck v. United States Supreme Court case, he argued that his arrest was unconstitutional and a violation of the first amendment. He had been arrested for distributing fliers, which were used to discourage draft inductions during WWI. Unfortunately for him, and democracy, the Supreme Court had struck down his appeal, stating that his words could be considered a “clear and present danger to life and liberty” (1). Even several years after the conclusion of this case, the Espionage Act is still in effect, making it a “dangerous threat to American freedom” …show more content…
and Malcolm X were both patriots when they “openly criticized the U.S. for segregation and its position in the Vietnam War” (7). Mr. King stated that the U.S. government was “the greatest purveyor of violence in the world today.” Malcolm X, on the other hand, criticized those who were obsessed with patriotism and the war, affirming that people should “not be so blinded with patriotism that they can’t face reality…wrong is wrong, no matter who does it or says it” (8). Similarly, the boxer Muhammad Ali criticized the United States for both its segregation and its position in the Vietnam War, refusing the draft when he