--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The American way is to criticize and…" description: "\"The American way is to criticize and debate openly, not to accept unthinkingly the doings of government officials of this or any other country.\" — Mich..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ada/michael-parenti-7383_accepting_the-american-way-is-to-criticize-and-deb_596689.jpg" --- # The American way is to criticize and debate openly, not to… ![“The American way is to criticize and debate openly, not to accept unthinkingly the doings of government officials of this or any other country.” quote by Michael Parenti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ada/michael-parenti-7383_accepting_the-american-way-is-to-criticize-and-deb_596689.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ada/michael-parenti-7383_accepting_the-american-way-is-to-criticize-and-deb_596689.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ada/michael-parenti-7383_accepting_the-american-way-is-to-criticize-and-deb_596689.jpg) > “The American way is to criticize and debate openly, not to accept unthinkingly the doings of government officials of this or any other country.” [Michael Parenti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-parenti/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Open criticism and debate are essential for a healthy democracy, preventing blind acceptance of authority. **In simple terms:** Debate protects democracy. Key Takeaway Encourage questioning of power. Themes democracy free speech accountability Mood thoughtful critical engaged Type philosophical political When to use this quote - political rallies - town hall meetings - media commentary - academic seminars Key Concepts civic engagement political theory Questions to Reflect On - How can societies foster respectful debate? - What safeguards prevent dissent from becoming cynicism? A Different Perspective May lead to polarization if not balanced with constructive dialogue. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-way/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Debate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/debate/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Government officials](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government-officials/) [Other countries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/other-countries/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) ## Related quotes > [Freedom means the right of people to assemble, organize, and debate openly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/freedom-means-the-right-of-people-to-assemble-organize-and-debate/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way when you criticize them, you are a mile away from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frieda-norris/before-you-criticize-someone-you-should-walk-a-mile-in-their-shoes-4/) Frieda Norris > [Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in her shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/before-you-criticize-someone-you-should-walk-a-mile-in-her-shoes-that/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Before you criticize a man, walk a mile in his shoes. That way, when you do criticize him, you'll be a mile away and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/before-you-criticize-a-man-walk-a-mile-in-his-shoes-that-way-when-you/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [“Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you’re a mile away and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sendhil-mullainathan/before-you-criticize-someone-you-should-walk-a-mile-in-their-shoes-3/) [Sendhil Mullainathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sendhil-mullainathan/) > [It was just this interesting, my first, the first time you hear your child in any way criticize you. It's the worst review of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tea-leoni/it-was-just-this-interesting-my-first-the-first-time-you-hear-your/) [Tea Leoni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tea-leoni/) > [When your about to criticize someone walk a mile in thier shoes, that way when you criticize them you're a mile away from them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-brashares/when-your-about-to-criticize-someone-walk-a-mile-in-thier-shoes-that/) [Ann Brashares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-brashares/) > [“Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way when you criticize them, you are a mile away from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rohi-shetty/before-you-criticize-someone-you-should-walk-a-mile-in-their-shoes/) Rohi Shetty > [Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. 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Buck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-s-buck/) > [“Used to the conditions of a capitalistic environment, the average American takes it for granted that every year business makes something new and better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/used-to-the-conditions-of-a-capitalistic-environment-the-average/) [Ludwig Von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [The American way of war is to build an army, then another, then a third, while building fleets. If the war is still on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-pournelle/the-american-way-of-war-is-to-build-an-army-then-another-then-a-third/) [Jerry Pournelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-pournelle/) > [The American way was for commerce, personal relationships, and religion to be voluntary. No one was forced to participate in something he didn't want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-browne/the-american-way-was-for-commerce-personal-relationships-and-religion/) [Harry Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-browne/) > [It's sort of the American way to go up and down the ladder, maybe several times in a lifetime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-stewart/it-s-sort-of-the-american-way-to-go-up-and-down-the-ladder-maybe/) [Martha Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-stewart/) ## More by Michael Parenti > [One mechanism of repression is the grand jury.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-parenti/one-mechanism-of-repression-is-the-grand-jury/) [Michael Parenti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-parenti/) > [A nation as such does not give aid to another nation. More precisely, the common citizens of our country, through their taxes, give to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-parenti/a-nation-as-such-does-not-give-aid-to-another-nation-more-precisely/) [Michael Parenti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-parenti/) > [Democracy is not about trust; it is about distrust. It is about accountability, exposure, open debate, critical challenge, and popular input and feedback from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-parenti/democracy-is-not-about-trust-it-is-about-distrust-it-is-about/) [Michael Parenti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-parenti/) > [All economic and political institutions are contrivances that should serve the interests of the people. When they fail to do so, they should be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-parenti/all-economic-and-political-institutions-are-contrivances-that-should/) [Michael Parenti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-parenti/) > [ \[The ruling elites\] know who their enemies are, and their enemies are the people, the people at home and the people abroad. Their enemies… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-parenti/the-ruling-elites-know-who-their-enemies-are-and-their-enemies-are/) [Michael Parenti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-parenti/) > [Even though the crime rate has dropped in recent years, the United States has more police per capita then any other nation in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-parenti/even-though-the-crime-rate-has-dropped-in-recent-years-the-united/) [Michael Parenti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-parenti/) > [The crucial role communists played in organizing industrial unions in the 1930s and struggling for social reforms, peace, and civil rights strengthened rather then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-parenti/the-crucial-role-communists-played-in-organizing-industrial-unions-in/) [Michael Parenti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-parenti/) > [Candidates who win while spending less than their opponents still usually have to spend quite a lot. While not a surefire guarantor of victory,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-parenti/candidates-who-win-while-spending-less-than-their-opponents-still/) [Michael Parenti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-parenti/) > [People who think they're free in this world just haven't come to the end of their leash yet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-parenti/people-who-think-they-re-free-in-this-world-just-haven-t-come-to-the/) [Michael Parenti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-parenti/) > [The rich have grown richer, but their tax rate has declined. The poor have grown poorer, but their taxes have increased.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-parenti/the-rich-have-grown-richer-but-their-tax-rate-has-declined-the-poor/) [Michael Parenti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-parenti/) > [The trick is to steal big.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-parenti/the-trick-is-to-steal-big/) [Michael Parenti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-parenti/) > [In almost every enterprise, government has provided business with opportunities for private gain at public expense. Government nurtures private capital accumulation through a process…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-parenti/in-almost-every-enterprise-government-has-provided-business-with/) [Michael Parenti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-parenti/) > [The essence of capitalism is to turn nature into commodities and commodities into capital. The live green earth is transformed into dead gold bricks,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-parenti/the-essence-of-capitalism-is-to-turn-nature-into-commodities-and/) [Michael Parenti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-parenti/) > [Official Washington cannot tell the American people that the real purpose of its gargantuan military expenditures and belligerent interventions is to make the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-parenti/official-washington-cannot-tell-the-american-people-that-the-real/) [Michael Parenti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-parenti/) > [Ecology's implications for capitalism are too momentous for the capitalist to contemplate. The plutocrats are more wedded to their wealth than to the Earth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-parenti/ecology-s-implications-for-capitalism-are-too-momentous-for-the/) [Michael Parenti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-parenti/) [Explore all 92 Michael Parenti quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-parenti/) ## More Accepting quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [This duo inside of me causes the perfect opportunity to live and learn twice as fast as those who choose to accept simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/this-duo-inside-of-me-causes-the-perfect-opportunity-to-live-and/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [Don't be bitter. Everybody suffers. If you can accept your suffering then you will understand other people better. Be grateful for pain. Love life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/don-t-be-bitter-everybody-suffers-if-you-can-accept-your-suffering/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [It takes an unusually philosophic mind to accept that all one’s suffering might be to no end, really, in the larger scheme of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-takes-an-unusually-philosophic-mind-to-accept-that-all-one-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No nation being under another nation can accept gifts, and kick at the responsibility attached to those gifts, imposed by the conquering nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/no-nation-being-under-another-nation-can-accept-gifts-and-kick-at-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Even with clothing naked animals, there were people who wanted to send in money. A woman in Santa Barbara, California, sent a $40,000 check.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-abel/even-with-clothing-naked-animals-there-were-people-who-wanted-to-send/) [Alan Abel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-abel/) > [Society understands the architecture of academia and knows there are relevant qualifications in different fields, and the media accepts the idea of specialisations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-griffiths/society-understands-the-architecture-of-academia-and-knows-there-are/) [Jay Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-griffiths/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/) [Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/) > [Losing someone is easy, but accepting it is hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/losing-someone-is-easy-but-accepting-it-is-hard/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [… and so he tried to accept the ache in his heart as what Dr. Larch would call the common symptoms of normal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/and-so-he-tried-to-accept-the-ache-in-his-heart-as-what-dr-larch/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [I think what was special about 'Music by Prudence' was the classic story of the title subject's life path - from being an outcast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-think-what-was-special-about-music-by-prudence-was-the-classic/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [As my films are born at the moment when they are reflected into another person's mind and memories, there are no misconceptions. I totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pirjo-honkasalo/as-my-films-are-born-at-the-moment-when-they-are-reflected-into/) [Pirjo Honkasalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pirjo-honkasalo/) Browse all 6,788 Accepting quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The American way is to criticize and debate openly, not to accept unthinkingly the doings of government officials of this or any other country.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Michael Parenti" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-parenti/the-american-way-is-to-criticize-and-debate-openly-not-to-accept/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Accepting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-parenti/the-american-way-is-to-criticize-and-debate-openly-not-to-accept/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ada/michael-parenti-7383_accepting_the-american-way-is-to-criticize-and-deb_596689.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ada/michael-parenti-7383_accepting_the-american-way-is-to-criticize-and-deb_596689.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ada/michael-parenti-7383_accepting_the-american-way-is-to-criticize-and-deb_596689.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The American way is to criticize and debate openly, not to accept unthinkingly the doings of government…” — Michael Parenti", "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": "Michael Parenti", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-parenti/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The American way is to criticize...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-parenti/the-american-way-is-to-criticize-and-debate-openly-not-to-accept/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-parenti/the-american-way-is-to-criticize-and-debate-openly-not-to-accept/#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 } } ] } ```