We must not confuse dissent with disloyalty.
Interpretation
Dissent should be valued as a form of loyalty to one's principles rather than seen as a betrayal.
Edward R. Murrow's quote emphasizes the distinction between dissent and disloyalty, arguing that challenging authority or expressing disagreement can actually stem from a deep loyalty to one's beliefs and values. This underscores the importance of open dialogue and critical thinking within a society, suggesting that questioning and dissent are vital components of a healthy and functioning democracy.
In practice
In a conversation about civic responsibility, I might say, 'We must not confuse dissent with disloyalty.'
We have currently a built-in allergy to unpleasant or disturbing information. Our mass media reflect this. But unless we get up off our fat surpluses and recognize that television in the main is being used to distract, delude, amuse, and insulate us, then television and those who finance it, those who look at it, and those who work at it, may see a totally different picture too late.
Everyone is a prisoner of his own experiences. No one can eliminate prejudices - just recognize them.
One of the basic troubles with radio and television news is that both instruments have grown up as an incompatible combination of show business, advertising and news. Each of the three is a rather bizarre and demanding profession. And when you get all three under one roof, the dust never settles.
Speaking of Sir Winston Churchill: He mobilized the English language and sent it into battle.
We cannot defend freedom abroad by deserting it at home.
The speed of communications is wondrous to behold. It is also true that speed can multiply the distribution of information that we know to be untrue.
In every country today, there is politics. It may be authoritarian politics, but there is politics.
On account of being a democracy and run by the people, we are the only nation in the world that has to keep a government four years, no matter what it does.
I don't think we can have democracies that work where most of the people are not benefiting economically, where most of the people are worried about their job security.
I would like to ask the many Filipino people to pray together, to help each other so that we will be able to preserve the democracy we restored 20 years ago.
Excessive taxation . . . will carry reason & reflection to every man's door, and particularly in the hour of election.
I think our democracy has it exactly right: two terms, eight years. It's enough. Because it's important to have one foot in reality when you have access to this kind of power.
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