Patriotism Is Never Easy

Patriotism is never easy.  It never has been.

Starting with the Revolution and our nation’s founding, patriotism has always been… divisive.  Contested, even.  During the Revolution, both patriots and loyalists were principled as well as opportunist, merciful as well as vicious.

And to be a patriot was to take a stand, to take a genuine risk.

Across America’s history, through every “era,” there have been debates and redefinitions of what it means to be a patriot.  The popularity of patriotism has waxed and waned as we have stepped and stumbled through our shared history.

This has probably been for the best. 

While it makes things more challenging for those of us whose heart swells with pride (and for those who today cannot summon pride for our nation), that push-and-pull, that contest over meaning is like our governing philosophies: make our ideas run the gauntlet of the public forum to determine what speaks the loudest to the community.

That’s the ideal, in any case.

If our nation is to evolve and grow, if it is to become something we can all be proud of, then its citizens – us – have to meet the very real challenge of being patriots in this moment.  Love of country doesn’t mean turning a blind eye to excesses or abuses.  It doesn’t mean blind devotion.  But today, for better or worse, it does mean loving our country enough to actually talk with one another.  To genuinely listen to one another.

In March, our monthly theme will be Citizenship and Civic Virtue.  The idea of citizenship will certainly be woven throughout our new designs.  As will the idea that citizenship comes with rights as well as responsibilities.

And maybe these ideals are not as popular or cool as they have been in the past, but without virtuous and patriotic citizens, no republic can last.

Long Live the Republic.