who said dissent is the highest form of patriotism

If the machine of government is of such a nature that it requires you to be the agent of injustice to another, then, I say, break the law. This most basic form of moral reasoning is newly relevant today, as supporters of NFL players taking a knee during the national anthem have spurred a new, hip slogan: Protest is patriotic. None other than George Takei, who somehow parlayed a small role from a low-rated, quickly canceled 1960s television show into widespread Internet fame, tweeted as much this week, garnering legions of likes and retweets: Protest is patriotic. The phrase (likely actually born in the 60s) is one that I never truly agreed with. Henry David Thoreau . In a 1969 speech at Columbia University, New York City Mayor John Lindsay said, The fact is that this dissent is the highest form of patriotism. The Left is big on diversity when it comes to race, creed, color, national origin, or sex- even creating whole new classifications of sex based upon identity. Yet when it comes to diversity of thought which trumps race, creed, color, national origin and sex, there are no brakes on the suppression of that diversity. Coupling instant gratification with the belief that one is engaged.