by Jamie Menutis

G21 Columnist

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NEW ORLEANS, LA, USA - Americans like to think of themselves as living in a society that is both free and tolerant. Much of this thought is due to the fact that individual members of society are given the right, by law, to express their individual thoughts, beliefs and opinions without legal repercussions.

I do believe that the majority of American citizens cherish this right and do not want to see it disappear. It is, after all, that thing of beauty within of the American dream - to live free within a society that allows freedom of opinion, religion and speech.

It is disheartening, therefore, to view the biased and intolerant perspective towards dissent and freedom of opinion that the media is presently encouraging in the United States.

CNN recently crafted a poll that asks viewer's opinion on such disingenuous questions as

"What is more patriotic - supporting the President or not?"

The question is designed, by its very nature, to put into doubt the patriotism of Americans who question or do not agree with the President's actions at this time.

It is curious to me when and where disagreeing with your President's actions made you less patriotic. The idea of blind submission and non-questioning of a government's actions seems to be the role that is required of citizens that live under repressive, i.e. dictatorial or fascist type regimes. The exact stated type, as a matter of fact, the Coalition soldiers are now at war against.

The entire American system was founded upon the premise of freedom. And, while we still live under a relatively free system, this right is guaranteed regardless of whether you agree with another's views or not. An even scarier thought, in my opinion, would be life inside a country that sends its young people off to war and its citizens remain apathetic about their lives and the premises upon which their lives are being risked. Supporting American troops and disagreeing with government policy through public assembly is our right. Equating anti-war demonstrations with lack of patriotism or non-support of American troops is incorrect and, unfortunately, an equation that American media is now propagating. Many people disagree with the "excuses" that are given for subjecting our military to war and still support our military. The military doesn't make policy, after all, it follows it.

Jamie Menutis

No one should, in good conscious, be able to send a person into a war and ask that person to risk his or her life without understanding if that risk is worth taking.

Every person presently fighting a war in the name of "American freedom and security" is someone's child, husband or wife. These people have faith that their lives are being risked for a just cause. Our leaders have said so. However, it seems to me that it is much easier for our leaders to send other people's children in to harm's way than their own. How many of Bush's children or family members are now in the front lines? The answer is zeroŠ. yet it is a war worth risking countless lives.

Now to the subject of American mannersŠ In the past two weeks, I have witnessed countless acts of American intolerance and bad manners. Some Americans seem to have adopted an "agree with me or else I will insult you" type of attitude.

Our first instances of intolerance had to do with the French. France does not agree and support America's position towards the war. This has made many Americans call for a boycott of French products and a call for a renaming of everything from French fries to the French Quarter in New Orleans. We're also supposed to do without French wine, cheese and perfume. It's our way or the highway, in other words. Ever think what would happen to the American economy if every country that disagreed with American policy chose to boycott our products?

A cousin of mine is from France and has lived in New Orleans for many, many years. He runs a business in the French Quarter in New Orleans and deals with hundreds of tourists during a given week. He was quite shocked when a customer reacted aggressively by throwing store merchandise onto the ground and walking out of his business. This happened after the customer found out that he was from France.

This ill-mannered person did not bother to engage him in a discussion or ask his viewpoints on anything; they simply equated his French heritage with the foreign policy decisions of France and proceeded to behave like an angry child. Are we Americans so intolerant of other viewpoints that we end up behaving like spoiled children who don't get their way?

An early morning radio talk show today asked listeners to call in with their opinion towards the protesters. Among those who called in was one listener who claimed that anti-war protesters are young people who haven't yet formulated their "grown up" viewpoints. This caller failed to recognize that the voices against the war prominently include those of veterans groups, lawyers, human rights activists and families of military. He further added that these people's actions should be recorded and put into a file and that this file should be used to effect their employment opportunities in the future. Wow, that sounds like the actions of a repressive military regime!

Another caller said that "protesters are a pain and expense to taxpayers and that protests should be made illegal." There goes our right to agree to disagree.

I have also witnessed numerous people tell protesters to "get a job," and "get a life." Hmmm, I wonder what job one could have that is more important than fighting for the rights of human life and peace? If war veterans and families of soldiers are questioning the premise of this war, don't we, as American citizens, at least owe them the time to listen to their positions?

Living in a democracy is not about "having it your way," as the Burger King jingle promises. It's about having it many ways and the ability to keep that right intact. When the government succeeds in getting us to believe and toe the given party line because we must, we have lost our rights as a country. These rights begin and end with Americans believing that they are worth cherishing. To protect our rights of expression, in any form, we must first begin with protecting those with whom we disagree. To look at the situation as either black or white is as much of a mistake as is a mistake to try and force others to do so.

The Civil Rights movement in the United States was founded upon the ability of people to stage non-violent protest. American citizens might benefit from keeping abreast of the actions of our government. Legislation such as the Patriot Act and the looming Patriot II, seek to reduce the privacy of American citizens, limit rights to legal counsel and gives the government the right to deport and strip American citizens of their citizenship at a moment's notice.

The Patriot II act is one of the most invasive pieces of legislation that the government is presently trying to pass. And, in this environment of intolerance, it just may become law. The right to dissent and express one's opposition is a privilege that we all currently share. It would be wise for all Americans to realize and protect this ability. Freedom lost is a very difficult, if not impossible, status to regain.

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"Shallow understanding from people of good will is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will. Lukewarm acceptance is much more bewildering than outright rejection." - Dr. Martin Luther King, 1963, Letter from Birmingham Jail