Miles Mendenhall
My sister rocks this bumper sticker that is a quote from Howard Zinn which states that, “dissent is the highest form of patriotism.” Whenever I borrow her car to get groceries I feel so progressive, hoping people will pair me with such breathtaking idealism because they think I put that on my bumper. I think in essence that statement is true; keeping the place you live and exist within accountable for its actions shows concern for it. I think inaction is more disrespectful then anything John Lennon ever did or said. The complacency within a public over its government’s wrongdoings is certainly more offensive then anything one man could ever do. The issue lies within the difference in strain dissent and complacency put upon the government. Complacency on any level does effects very little of any sort of government action so it matters very little to the higher levels of the political within a country. If the government governs a complacent nation, it gets to do what it wants. However, dissent, even on a small scale, can cause quite a stir, breeding awareness and action, something that when pitted against the political can be very troublesome. A perfect example of this within pop culture was highlighted in this weeks movie, the issue concerning Lennon’s outspoken opinions about Vietnam. The Rock Pop, and Politics reading put it best saying, “pop and rock have achieved on thing: they have made popular music into a political issue, and they have invested it with the potential to endanger and disrupt the established order.” When this order or complacency is disrupted the government becomes threatened to the extent of tapping phones and placing limitations on passports, as was the case with Lennon and other activists of the era. Tariq Ali’s quote which tries to demean the influence of writer’s or thinkers is discredited not only by these actions, but the by the type of society that is promoted even today. We live within a distracted, complacent culture, uninformed and apathetic. We might be the most powerful nation, but on average we are also becoming the most stupid. But this is easier to govern, because people like to watch American Idol and complain about how uncomfortable a classroom is (see: Thomas Kuppe’s blog) rather than being aware of what their government is up to.This attitude of dissent found within the 60’s will most likely never again resonate on a large scale within society, because no sort of political conviction will last more than a week within a person who is used to getting a full meal handed to them within thirty second after asking for it without ever having to get out of their car. Dissent stopped being cool when it became work.