July 4th marks 250 years
Since today is July 4th - the day we celebrate the founding of our nation - I think it’s time we reclaim patriotism from the performative nationalism that has taken up so much of the national air space.
Patriotism isn’t loud. It isn’t angry. It isn’t a costume, waving a flag, shooting fireworks or a slogan. It’s something deeper, more human, and more honest.
The most deeply human and truly patriotic words ever written in America begin like this:
“We hold these truths to be self‑evident, that all men are created equal…”
Those words are not just history.
They are not just poetry.
They are not just a relic of 1776.
They are the moral purpose of the United States.
They are the North Star of the American idea.
They are the promise that defines what it means to be a patriot.
Because patriotism isn’t about flags, parties, fireworks, slogans, or loyalty to leaders.
Patriotism is fidelity to the promise that every person has equal dignity, equal rights, and an equal voice - and that government exists only to secure those rights, deriving its just powers from the consent of the governed.
That’s the heart of it.
That’s the soul of it.
That’s the American purpose.
So let me ask you something on this July 4th: Are you a patriot?
If you say yes, then you…
…are loyal to the American purpose, not to any party, faction, or leader.
…honor the equal dignity of every person, without exception or condition.
…defend the unalienable rights of all people, not only the rights that benefit you.
…uphold consent of the governed as the source of all legitimate power.
…measure government by whether it serves the people, not whether it serves you.
…hold the nation accountable to its founding promise, even when it is uncomfortable.
…refuse to let fear, privilege, or convenience override equality or rights.
…stand with the Declaration of Independence as the moral North Star of the Republic. …act as a steward of the American idea - honest about its compromises but committed to its promise.
…are faithful to the promise, not the power.
If that’s you, then yes - you are a patriot in the truest sense of the word.
If not, then maybe consider if you are instead a constitutionalist, or a traditionalist, or a partisan and loyalist – all of which I would submit, pale in importance when compared to being a true patriot. Patriotism is something deeper. Something higher. Something rooted in the promise that launched this country in the first place. Something more human and demanding of us.
Patriotism is not about protecting the system we inherited.
It’s about protecting the purpose we declared.
It is about being selfless.
And that purpose, as difficult as it may be to achieve, as hard as it has even been to personally commit to, is as alive today as it was in 1776.
Happy Independence Day!
Patriotism isn’t loud. It isn’t angry. It isn’t a costume, waving a flag, shooting fireworks or a slogan. It’s something deeper, more human, and more honest.
The most deeply human and truly patriotic words ever written in America begin like this:
“We hold these truths to be self‑evident, that all men are created equal…”
Those words are not just history.
They are not just poetry.
They are not just a relic of 1776.
They are the moral purpose of the United States.
They are the North Star of the American idea.
They are the promise that defines what it means to be a patriot.
Because patriotism isn’t about flags, parties, fireworks, slogans, or loyalty to leaders.
Patriotism is fidelity to the promise that every person has equal dignity, equal rights, and an equal voice - and that government exists only to secure those rights, deriving its just powers from the consent of the governed.
That’s the heart of it.
That’s the soul of it.
That’s the American purpose.
So let me ask you something on this July 4th: Are you a patriot?
If you say yes, then you…
…are loyal to the American purpose, not to any party, faction, or leader.
…honor the equal dignity of every person, without exception or condition.
…defend the unalienable rights of all people, not only the rights that benefit you.
…uphold consent of the governed as the source of all legitimate power.
…measure government by whether it serves the people, not whether it serves you.
…hold the nation accountable to its founding promise, even when it is uncomfortable.
…refuse to let fear, privilege, or convenience override equality or rights.
…stand with the Declaration of Independence as the moral North Star of the Republic. …act as a steward of the American idea - honest about its compromises but committed to its promise.
…are faithful to the promise, not the power.
If that’s you, then yes - you are a patriot in the truest sense of the word.
If not, then maybe consider if you are instead a constitutionalist, or a traditionalist, or a partisan and loyalist – all of which I would submit, pale in importance when compared to being a true patriot. Patriotism is something deeper. Something higher. Something rooted in the promise that launched this country in the first place. Something more human and demanding of us.
Patriotism is not about protecting the system we inherited.
It’s about protecting the purpose we declared.
It is about being selfless.
And that purpose, as difficult as it may be to achieve, as hard as it has even been to personally commit to, is as alive today as it was in 1776.
Happy Independence Day!
