We should not forget that our tradition is one of protest and revolt, and it is stultifying to celebrate the rebels of the past ... while we silence the rebels of the present.
Interpretation
The quote emphasizes the importance of recognizing and supporting current dissenters as much as we celebrate historical ones.
Henry Steele Commager's quote highlights a critical viewpoint about the nature of tradition in relation to rebellion and protest. It suggests that while society often honors the rebels of the past for their courageous actions, it simultaneously tends to silence or overlook the voices of contemporary rebels who strive for change. The essence of the quote calls for a continuous acknowledgment of modern dissent and the necessity of supporting those who challenge the status quo, thereby ensuring that the spirit of protest remains alive and relevant.
In practice
In a speech about social justice, you could use this quote to emphasize the importance of supporting current movements for change.
The justification and the purpose of freedom of speech is not to indulge those who want to speak their minds. It is to prevent error and discover truth. There may be other ways of detecting error and discovering truth than that of free discussion, but so far we have not found them.
It is sobering to recall that though the Japanese relocation program, carried through at such incalculable cost in misery and tragedy, was justified on the ground that the Japanese were potentially disloyal, the record does not disclose a single case of Japanese disloyalty or sabotage during the whole war.
If our democracy is to flourish, it must have criticism; if our government is to function it must have dissent.
The greatest danger we face is not any particular kind of thought. The greatest danger we face is absence of thought.
America was born of revolt, flourished in dissent, became great through experimentation.
Men in authority will always think that criticism of their policies is dangerous. They will always equate their policies with patriotism, and find criticism subversive.
It is the part of a Christian to take care of his own body for the very purpose that, by its soundness and wellbeing, he may be enabled to labour, and to acquire and preserve property, for the aid of those who are in want, that thus the stronger member may serve the weaker member, and we may be children of God, and busy for one another, bearing one another's burdens, and so fulfiling the law of Christ.
You ought not to be rude to an eagle, when you are only the size of a hobbit, and are up in hid eyrie at night!
Nonsense remains nonsense even when we talk it about God.
We all came into this world naked. The rest is all drag.
The wounds were burning like suns at five in the afternoon, and the crowd broke the windows At five in the afternoon. Ah, that fatal five in the afternoon! It was five by all the clocks! It was five in the shade of the afternoon!
I never close a door on any other religion. Most of the time, some part of it makes sense to me. I don't believe everyone has to chant just because I chant. I believe all religion is about touching something inside of yourself.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.