---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Recently we have seen a level of public…"
description: "\"“Recently we have seen a level of public protest unlike anything we have witnessed in decades. Dissent is about marching, and making one’s voice heard ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce0/dan-rather-2779_dissent_recently-we-have-seen-a-level-of-public_766042.jpg"
---

#  Recently we have seen a level of public protest unlike…

![“Recently we have seen a level of public protest unlike anything we have witnessed in decades. Dissent is about marching, and making one’s voice heard in the streets and at the ballot box. But at the same time, there are strong voices calling this dissent unpatriotic and dangerous. We cannot let…” quote by Dan Rather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce0/dan-rather-2779_dissent_recently-we-have-seen-a-level-of-public_766042.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce0/dan-rather-2779_dissent_recently-we-have-seen-a-level-of-public_766042.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce0/dan-rather-2779_dissent_recently-we-have-seen-a-level-of-public_766042.jpg)

> ““Recently we have seen a level of public protest unlike anything we have witnessed in decades. Dissent is about marching, and making one’s voice heard in the streets and at the ballot box. But at the same time, there are strong voices calling this dissent unpatriotic and dangerous. We cannot let the forces of suppression win. America works best when new thoughts can emerge to compete, and thrive, in a marketplace of ideas.””

[Dan Rather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-rather/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Public protest is vital for democracy, but dissent faces accusations of being unpatriotic, risking suppression of new ideas.

**In simple terms:** Protest fuels democracy, but can be labeled dangerous.

Key Takeaway

Defend free expression and diverse ideas.

Themes

democracy free speech political dissent media civic engagement

Mood

concerned hopeful defiant

Type

political social inspirational

When to use this quote

- elections
- social movements
- online activism
- artistic expression

Key Concepts

pluralism marketplace of ideas political polarization

Questions to Reflect On

- How can societies protect dissent while maintaining unity?
- What role should media play in framing protest?

A Different Perspective

Critics may claim dissent threatens national unity, which can silence legitimate concerns.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Dissent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dissent/)

## Related quotes

> [Majority decisions tend to be made without engaging the systematic thought and critical thinking skills of the individuals in the group. Given the force…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/majority-decisions-tend-to-be-made-without-engaging-the-systematic/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [In sum, the Court's conclusion that a constitutionally adequate recount is impractical is a prophecy the Court's own judgment will not allow to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/in-sum-the-court-s-conclusion-that-a-constitutionally-adequate/)

[Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/)

> [“That there must be heresies is true, not onely in our Church, but also in any other; even in Doctrines hereticall there will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-browne/that-there-must-be-heresies-is-true-not-onely-in-our-church-but-also/)

[Thomas Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-browne/)

> [The intolerant man will not rely on persuasion, or on the worth of the idea. He would deny to others the very freedom of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kennedy/the-intolerant-man-will-not-rely-on-persuasion-or-on-the-worth-of-the/)

[Robert Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kennedy/)

> [“Protection, therefore, against tyranny of the magistrate is not enough: there needs protection also against the tyranny of the prevailing opinion and feeling; against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/protection-therefore-against-tyranny-of-the-magistrate-is-not-enough/)

[John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/)

> [In religion, it is not the sycophants or those who cling most faithfully to the status quo who are ultimately praised. It is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rollo-may/in-religion-it-is-not-the-sycophants-or-those-who-cling-most/)

[Rollo May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rollo-may/)

> [“I am aware that many object to the severity of my language; but is there not cause for severity? I will be as harsh…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lloyd-garrison/i-am-aware-that-many-object-to-the-severity-of-my-language-but-is/)

[William Lloyd Garrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lloyd-garrison/)

> [America was born of revolt, flourished in dissent, became great through experimentation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-steele-commager/america-was-born-of-revolt-flourished-in-dissent-became-great-through/)

[Henry Steele Commager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-steele-commager/)

> [In America, you can segregate the people, but the problems will travel. From slavery to equal rights, from state suppression of dissent to crime,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-jordan/in-america-you-can-segregate-the-people-but-the-problems-will-travel/)

[June Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-jordan/)

> [It is dissent from government policies which defines the true Patriot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/it-is-dissent-from-government-policies-which-defines-the-true-patriot/)

[Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/)

> [The original crime of niggers and lesbians is that they prefer themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/the-original-crime-of-niggers-and-lesbians-is-that-they-prefer/)

[Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/)

> [I find myself frequently placed where I dare give neither assent nor dissent to propositions that are submitted to me; for there is danger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-g-white/i-find-myself-frequently-placed-where-i-dare-give-neither-assent-nor/)

[Ellen G. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-g-white/)

> [Never be afraid to raise your voice for honesty and truth and compassion against injustice and lying and greed. If people all over the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/never-be-afraid-to-raise-your-voice-for-honesty-and-truth-and/)

[William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/)

> [If you want to live a meaningfully better life, you're going to have to make the dangerous choice to dissent. A life lived meaningfully…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umair-haque/if-you-want-to-live-a-meaningfully-better-life-you-re-going-to-have/)

[Umair Haque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umair-haque/)

> [Lonely dissent doesn't feel like going to school dressed in black. It feels like going to school wearing a clown suit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliezer-yudkowsky/lonely-dissent-doesn-t-feel-like-going-to-school-dressed-in-black-it/)

[Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/)

## More by Dan Rather

> [Americans will put up with anything provided it doesn't block traffic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-rather/americans-will-put-up-with-anything-provided-it-doesn-t-block-traffic/)

[Dan Rather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-rather/)

> [“a democracy requires open access to ideas. It requires a willingness to struggle and learn, to question our own suppositions and biases, to open…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-rather/a-democracy-requires-open-access-to-ideas-it-requires-a-willingness/)

[Dan Rather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-rather/)

> [ “\[I\]nclusion, not assimilation, should be the key concept in seeking, ever seeking, a more perfect national union. Our own history has shown that we… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-rather/i-nclusion-not-assimilation-should-be-the-key-concept-in-seeking-ever/)

[Dan Rather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-rather/)

> [One of the most important roles of our journalists is to be watchdogs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-rather/one-of-the-most-important-roles-of-our-journalists-is-to-be-watchdogs/)

[Dan Rather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-rather/)

> [ He \[Mikhail Gorbachev\] has, as many great leaders have, impressive eyes…There's a kind of laser-beam stare, a forced quality, you get from Gorbachev that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-rather/he-mikhail-gorbachev-has-as-many-great-leaders-have-impressive-eyes/)

[Dan Rather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-rather/)

> [I have tried to remain a working, cutting-edge journalist and I don't do it the way everybody else does it. And I think that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-rather/i-have-tried-to-remain-a-working-cutting-edge-journalist-and-i-don-t/)

[Dan Rather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-rather/)

> [They may have turned this up, whether you had the Paula Jones case or not. But again maybe not, but again that's like if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-rather/they-may-have-turned-this-up-whether-you-had-the-paula-jones-case-or/)

[Dan Rather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-rather/)

> [Are the Democrats going to dance the mandate Macarena?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-rather/are-the-democrats-going-to-dance-the-mandate-macarena/)

[Dan Rather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-rather/)

> [Covering the civil-rights movement was a mind- and eye-opener for me. Houston was a segregated society, as was Texas as a whole - some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-rather/covering-the-civil-rights-movement-was-a-mind-and-eye-opener-for-me/)

[Dan Rather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-rather/)

> [Those market researchers... are playing games with you and me and with this entire country. Their so-called samples of opinion are no more accurate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-rather/those-market-researchers-are-playing-games-with-you-and-me-and-with/)

[Dan Rather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-rather/)

> [Don't taunt the alligator until after you've crossed the creek.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-rather/don-t-taunt-the-alligator-until-after-you-ve-crossed-the-creek/)

[Dan Rather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-rather/)

> [College is like a woman: you work so hard to get in, and nine months later you wish you'd never come. We used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-rather/college-is-like-a-woman-you-work-so-hard-to-get-in-and-nine-months/)

[Dan Rather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-rather/)

> [Despite what many Americans think, most Soviets do not yearn for capitalism or Western-style democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-rather/despite-what-many-americans-think-most-soviets-do-not-yearn-for/)

[Dan Rather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-rather/)

> [It's the American way: if you don't vote, you don't get to whine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-rather/it-s-the-american-way-if-you-don-t-vote-you-don-t-get-to-whine/)

[Dan Rather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-rather/)

> [Journalists should denounce government by public opinion polls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-rather/journalists-should-denounce-government-by-public-opinion-polls/)

[Dan Rather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-rather/)

[Explore all 150 Dan Rather quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-rather/)

## More Dissent quotes

> [Majority decisions tend to be made without engaging the systematic thought and critical thinking skills of the individuals in the group. Given the force…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/majority-decisions-tend-to-be-made-without-engaging-the-systematic/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [If you want to live a meaningfully better life, you're going to have to make the dangerous choice to dissent. A life lived meaningfully…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umair-haque/if-you-want-to-live-a-meaningfully-better-life-you-re-going-to-have/)

[Umair Haque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umair-haque/)

> [Never be afraid to raise your voice for honesty and truth and compassion against injustice and lying and greed. If people all over the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/never-be-afraid-to-raise-your-voice-for-honesty-and-truth-and/)

[William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/)

> [I find myself frequently placed where I dare give neither assent nor dissent to propositions that are submitted to me; for there is danger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-g-white/i-find-myself-frequently-placed-where-i-dare-give-neither-assent-nor/)

[Ellen G. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-g-white/)

> [The original crime of niggers and lesbians is that they prefer themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/the-original-crime-of-niggers-and-lesbians-is-that-they-prefer/)

[Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/)

> [It is dissent from government policies which defines the true Patriot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/it-is-dissent-from-government-policies-which-defines-the-true-patriot/)

[Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/)

> [In America, you can segregate the people, but the problems will travel. From slavery to equal rights, from state suppression of dissent to crime,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-jordan/in-america-you-can-segregate-the-people-but-the-problems-will-travel/)

[June Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-jordan/)

> [America was born of revolt, flourished in dissent, became great through experimentation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-steele-commager/america-was-born-of-revolt-flourished-in-dissent-became-great-through/)

[Henry Steele Commager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-steele-commager/)

> [“I am aware that many object to the severity of my language; but is there not cause for severity? I will be as harsh…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lloyd-garrison/i-am-aware-that-many-object-to-the-severity-of-my-language-but-is/)

[William Lloyd Garrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lloyd-garrison/)

> [In religion, it is not the sycophants or those who cling most faithfully to the status quo who are ultimately praised. It is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rollo-may/in-religion-it-is-not-the-sycophants-or-those-who-cling-most/)

[Rollo May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rollo-may/)

> [“Protection, therefore, against tyranny of the magistrate is not enough: there needs protection also against the tyranny of the prevailing opinion and feeling; against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/protection-therefore-against-tyranny-of-the-magistrate-is-not-enough/)

[John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/)

> [The intolerant man will not rely on persuasion, or on the worth of the idea. He would deny to others the very freedom of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kennedy/the-intolerant-man-will-not-rely-on-persuasion-or-on-the-worth-of-the/)

[Robert Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kennedy/)

> [“That there must be heresies is true, not onely in our Church, but also in any other; even in Doctrines hereticall there will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-browne/that-there-must-be-heresies-is-true-not-onely-in-our-church-but-also/)

[Thomas Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-browne/)

> [In sum, the Court's conclusion that a constitutionally adequate recount is impractical is a prophecy the Court's own judgment will not allow to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/in-sum-the-court-s-conclusion-that-a-constitutionally-adequate/)

[Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/)

> [Lonely dissent doesn't feel like going to school dressed in black. It feels like going to school wearing a clown suit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliezer-yudkowsky/lonely-dissent-doesn-t-feel-like-going-to-school-dressed-in-black-it/)

[Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/)

[Browse all 440 Dissent quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dissent/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Recently we have seen a level of public protest unlike anything we have witnessed in decades. Dissent is about marching, and making one’s voice heard in the streets and at the ballot box. But at the same time, there are strong voices calling this dissent unpatriotic and dangerous. We cannot let the forces of suppression win. America works best when new thoughts can emerge to compete, and thrive, in a marketplace of ideas.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Dan Rather"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-rather/recently-we-have-seen-a-level-of-public-protest-unlike-anything-we/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Dissent"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-rather/recently-we-have-seen-a-level-of-public-protest-unlike-anything-we/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce0/dan-rather-2779_dissent_recently-we-have-seen-a-level-of-public_766042.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce0/dan-rather-2779_dissent_recently-we-have-seen-a-level-of-public_766042.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ce0/dan-rather-2779_dissent_recently-we-have-seen-a-level-of-public_766042.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Recently we have seen a level of public protest unlike anything we have witnessed in decades. Dissent is…” — Dan Rather",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Dan Rather",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-rather/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Recently we have seen a level...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-rather/recently-we-have-seen-a-level-of-public-protest-unlike-anything-we/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-rather/recently-we-have-seen-a-level-of-public-protest-unlike-anything-we/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
