In my English III class, we're studying the work on Henry David Thoreau. I opened class with these five quotes. The last quote I included as an interesting contrast.
"What country can preserve its liberties if its rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance?" - Thomas Jefferson
"The spirit of resistance to government is so valuable on certain occasions, that I wish it to be always kept alive. It will often be exercised when wrong, but better so than not to be exercised at all. I like a little rebellion now and then." - Thomas Jefferson
"Every generation needs a new revolution." - Thomas Jefferson
"While some people think that dissent is unpatriotic, I would argue that dissent is the highest form of patriotism. In fact, if patriotism means being true to the principles for which your country is supposed to stand, then certainly the right to dissent is one of those principles. And if we're exercising that right to dissent, it's a patriotic act." - Howard Zinn
"Honestly, I think we should just trust our president in every decision that he makes and we should just support that, you know, and be faithful in what happens." - Britney Spears
Fortunately, Miss Spears, our U.S. Constitution does not agree with you. You wonder why students are often at the front lines of every protest? Blame teachers and Thoreau.
