Real Patriots Will Respect Dissenters

But as the United States moves from questioning "Why did this happen?" to "What do we do to about it?," the country splits on the course of action.

Chapel Hill always has been unabashedly liberal. They have spoken out against the death penalty, have strict gun control laws, are fierce environmentalists and even (gasp) allow domestic partnership benefits for gay and lesbian town employees.

While these acts have led to the scorn of conservatives, nothing compares to some people's reaction to the town after the terrorist attacks.

It all started with Top of the Hill. Scott Maitland, a Gulf War veteran who owns the town icon, hung a huge banner that read "God Bless America; Woe to Our Enemies" over Franklin Street. The banner violated a town ordinance and was ordered down.

Then the backlash began.

Conservative idols Rush Limbaugh and G. Gordon Liddy gleefully berated the town's decision to (gasp) enforce the law and launched a broader debate on free speech. (Maitland had the right to express his view on a banner that obeyed the ordinance. This wasn't an issue of free speech.)

Monday night the University held a second teach-in on alternatives to violence after the attacks. After the first was held Sept. 17, Chancellor James Moeser was overwhelmed with calls and e-mails asking how UNC could allow such an event. Moeser stood behind the freedom of expression and intellectual debate the University thrives on.

Then there are those who broke out the markers and poster board. Holding signs that promote peace over military violence, protesters took to the steps of the Franklin Street Post Office to voice their opposition to a military solution to the terrorist problem. Usually, these protesters are greeted with apathy from passers-by. Sometimes people will engage them in a debate.

Unfortunately, some protesters across the country have been met with verbal and physical attacks -- just for expressing their view.

President George Bush laid an ultimatum to foreign nations: You are either with us, or you are against us.

The American people have been laying down the same ultimatum to ... well, the American people.

The Chapel Hill Town Council was called every liberal insult in the book: "pinkos," "commies," and my favorite: "cowardly limp-wristed pantywaists."

Why?

Because you either buy into this resurgence of American nationalism (which we call "patriotism" so as not to be equated with those Baltic nations requiring United Nations peacekeepers), or you are against America. As a nation, we seem to have collectively grabbed our crotch and said "nuke 'em. If you disagree, shut up."

Mass public sentiment has been swept up in the idea that the only viable solution is a military offensive. In my opinion, that might be true.

But we are doing a great disservice to our country by railing against our own citizens who have differing views. They are no less American because they believe a solution to terrorism might lie beyond aircraft carriers and helicopters.

We need to support their right to express their opinion. It's one of the things we're fighting for in this whole campaign against terror.

A lot of our freedoms are being sacrificed at the altar of national security. Freedom to take a stand and buck public opinion should not be one of them.

There's a very fine line between patriotism and nationalism.

Patriotism is loving your country, waving the flag with pride (but not a feeling of superiority), appreciating the freedoms often taken for granted and, most of all, supporting fellow citizens -- even if you don't agree with them.

Nationalism is attacking and trying to silence a voice of dissent. Hanging a flag up on the back windshield of your car doesn't make you a patriot.

Respecting the rights of those protesters does.

Columnist Jonathan Chaney can be reached at jhchaney@email.unc.edu.