As I exited a class in Morton Hall on Monday, I stopped to peruse the bulletin board located in the hallway near the bathrooms. While there were many interesting postings, a particular bright red flyer caught my eye and held it for longer than usual. The flyer, which read “Tired of your liberal professors telling you to hate America?,” was put there by the UNCW chapter of the College Republicans.

This editorial could have easily become a tirade of allegations and angry profanity, but that is neither productive nor flattering. Instead, it seemed the perfect opportunity to offer my views on what it means to be not just a good American, but also a patriotic one.

By far, the most amazing right that American’s are entitled to is our right to free speech. Along with this right to free speech comes the inalienable right to voice opinions on the choices of our government. But this isn’t just a right; it is in fact our obligation as free and democratic citizens to question the actions of our political leaders. This obligation is what makes our voices heard, even when the powers-that-be try to have them silenced.

America was based on this concept of questioning politics. If it weren’t for a group of so-called rebels questioning the government that controlled them, the British would still rule America. Granted, our scones would be better but I don’t think that was worth sitting back with closed eyes and accepting a fate that was handed to us. Whether you are Democrat or Republican, you have the right to stand up and express the opinions that matter most to you. This is what Americans began fighting for in 1774.

Further more, in the four years I have attended this institution, I have had many brilliant professors; some Liberal, some Conservative, all of them opinionated. However not once have I had a professor tell me to hate anything. They put forth theories and statistics and then let you form your own opinion. They may encourage you to not accept fallacy handed to you as truth or opinions offered to you as fact, but this is a basic lesson that everyone involved in higher education should be learning.

I am reminded of a quote from “The American President,” a wonderful 1995 film directed by Rob Reiner. The quote is as follows:

“America isn’t easy. America is advanced citizenship. You’ve got to want it bad, because it’s gonna put up a fight. It’s gonna say, ‘You want free speech? Let’s see you acknowledge a man whose words make your blood boil who is standing center stage and advocating at the top of his lungs that which you would spend a lifetime opposing at the top of yours. You want to claim this land as the ‘land of the free’? Then the symbol of your country cannot just be a flag. The symbol also has to be one of its citizens exercising his right to burn that flag in protest. Now show me that, defend that, celebrate that in your classrooms. Then you can stand up and sing about the ‘land of the free.'”

I fully support the College Republican’s right to post that flyer anywhere they please. But I also support the right of those who disagree with it to speak out and explain why. This is a country founded on the principles of fighting for what you believe in most. What do you believe in?