American patriotism is plummeting, and it makes no sense

Why should Christians be patriotic for an Empire which deliberately undermines our principles and exports morality which is contrary to the faith? This is a good thing at least as far as Christians are concerned

It certainly brings an opportunity for each of us to ask ourselves, 'How patriotic am I? and Why?"

Michie said:

It’s no news flash that younger Americans today generally tend to be less patriotic than previous generations. But the “patriotism gap” is growing rapidly, and perhaps most concerning is the fact that the gap is most drastic among younger Americans.

Writing for HotAir.com, Ed Morrissey notes: “Pride in America has sunk to its lowest standing ever, mainly led by a collapse among Democrats.”

Indeed, Gallup polls write: “A record-low 58% of U.S. adults say they are ‘extremely’ (41%) or ‘very’ (17%) proud to be an American, down nine percentage points from last year and five points below the prior low from 2020.” Gallup notes that most of the decline is in the “very proud” category.

Ben Shapiro asks if we’re seeing “the end of patriotism?” He opens his recent column with this observation: “America has a major problem: nearly half of Americans — 42% — don't believe in America.”

Continued below.

American patriotism is plummeting, and it makes no sense

How do we account for this drop in patriotism

www.christianpost.com

Click to expand...

The USA seems kinda over. Hard to get patriotic when it’s collapsing of it’s own apparent volition.

Michie said:

It’s no news flash that younger Americans today generally tend to be less patriotic than previous generations. But the “patriotism gap” is growing rapidly, and perhaps most concerning is the fact that the gap is most drastic among younger Americans.

Writing for HotAir.com, Ed Morrissey notes: “Pride in America has sunk to its lowest standing ever, mainly led by a collapse among Democrats.”

Indeed, Gallup polls write: “A record-low 58% of U.S. adults say they are ‘extremely’ (41%) or ‘very’ (17%) proud to be an American, down nine percentage points from last year and five points below the prior low from 2020.” Gallup notes that most of the decline is in the “very proud” category.

Ben Shapiro asks if we’re seeing “the end of patriotism?” He opens his recent column with this observation: “America has a major problem: nearly half of Americans — 42% — don't believe in America.”

Continued below.

American patriotism is plummeting, and it makes no sense

How do we account for this drop in patriotism

www.christianpost.com

Click to expand...

What makes people be more patriotic than being attacked by a foreign country?

What kills it more than long wars with no decisive winner or leaders that show no real patriotism but put themselves over the Constitution.

American patriotism is complicated, and I think we do well to acknowledge that complexity as we teach our children.

During my teenage years, the US celebrated its bicentennial. It was a great and glorious party, flags and fireworks and red-white-and-blue everywhere. I enjoyed it tremendously.

Also during my teenage years, I realized that drafting young men and compelling them to go kill Vietnamese people was a morally questionable thing to do, and if "patriotism" meant killing strangers, then I'd best not label myself patriotic.

Both things were true of me, then and now. This country is an amazing political experiment, based not on shared ethnicity but on a shared idea of a democratic system of government that (mostly) protects our individual rights and freedoms, and carefully balances our selfish impulses so that most of the time we get really good stuff done. AND: This country has done some bad things along the way, partly because it's so very hard to keep all those selfish impulses in check all the time, and partly because we just aren't infinitely wise.

As we teach our children, I think we need to tell them the complicated truth. Maybe simple stories will do for the tiniest children. But as they mature into their tweens and teens and adulthood, talk about how people are complicated and nations are complicated. Thomas Jefferson, for example, was a wise and insightful statesman, and he was a slaveowner, and he was an excellent writer, and he constructed the somewhat dubious Jefferson Bible, and he founded a major university, all of that. Similarly with our other founders and heroes, and similarly with our country.

The best sense of patriotism is to step up and take responsibility for making this country the best that we can make it. When we mess up, we acknowledge it and try to fix it. And when we do good things -- as we often do -- we cheer and sing our songs and wave our flags. That's the sense in which I can be patriotic, and the sense in which I can encourage my children to be patriotic.

PloverWing said:

American patriotism is complicated, and I think we do well to acknowledge that complexity as we teach our children.

Click to expand...

That is true for almost everything. But we always simplify. Everything is black and white.

PloverWing said:

Also during my teenage years, I realized that drafting young men and compelling them to go kill Vietnamese people was a morally questionable thing to do, and if "patriotism" meant killing strangers, then I'd best not label myself patriotic.

Both things were true of me, then and now. This country is an amazing political experiment, based not on shared ethnicity but on a shared idea of a democratic system of government that (mostly) protects our individual rights and freedoms, and carefully balances our selfish impulses so that most of the time we get really good stuff done. AND: This country has done some bad things along the way, partly because it's so very hard to keep all those selfish impulses in check all the time, and partly because we just aren't infinitely wise.

As we teach our children, I think we need to tell them the complicated truth. Maybe simple stories will do for the tiniest children. But as they mature into their tweens and teens and adulthood, talk about how people are complicated and nations are complicated. Thomas Jefferson, for example, was a wise and insightful statesman, and he was a slaveowner, and he was an excellent writer, and he constructed the somewhat dubious Jefferson Bible, and he founded a major university, all of that. Similarly with our other founders and heroes, and similarly with our country.

The best sense of patriotism is to step up and take responsibility for making this country the best that we can make it. When we mess up, we acknowledge it and try to fix it. And when we do good things -- as we often do -- we cheer and sing our songs and wave our flags. That's the sense in which I can be patriotic, and the sense in which I can encourage my children to be patriotic.

Click to expand...

My father served in the navy in World War II. WE, the United States of America, were something to be proud of in spite of controversial decisions (like two nuclear bomb on civilian populations). Revolting against English rule was amazing. Creating and implementing this new form of government, Amazing! We can still be proud of our roots in spite of slavery. In spite of exploiting the environment and the poor. We can be proud that we used to be moral leaders and still have that possibility.

We are so divided now that at any time half the country seems to be patriotic and the other half dissatisfied with the people in authority and no longer willing to support them. The the pendulum swings and the reverse is in place.

We had a chance after 9/11. That brought us together. But it did not last long. ow even catastrophes of nature become political weapons. We have lost solidarity and with that went healthy patriotism. "Patriotism" now is just feeling passionate about my own political view and ready to get violent about IT. Not the goo of the country. That would take patient working together, listeinng to each other, and collaboration.

There is not a lot to be proud of right now. I didn't put my flag out this July 4th. Flag waving just didn't seem appropriate to the times.

PloverWing said:

American patriotism is complicated, and I think we do well to acknowledge that complexity as we teach our children.

During my teenage years, the US celebrated its bicentennial. It was a great and glorious party, flags and fireworks and red-white-and-blue everywhere. I enjoyed it tremendously.

Also during my teenage years, I realized that drafting young men and compelling them to go kill Vietnamese people was a morally questionable thing to do, and if "patriotism" meant killing strangers, then I'd best not label myself patriotic.

Both things were true of me, then and now. This country is an amazing political experiment, based not on shared ethnicity but on a shared idea of a democratic system of government that (mostly) protects our individual rights and freedoms, and carefully balances our selfish impulses so that most of the time we get really good stuff done. AND: This country has done some bad things along the way, partly because it's so very hard to keep all those selfish impulses in check all the time, and partly because we just aren't infinitely wise.

As we teach our children, I think we need to tell them the complicated truth. Maybe simple stories will do for the tiniest children. But as they mature into their tweens and teens and adulthood, talk about how people are complicated and nations are complicated. Thomas Jefferson, for example, was a wise and insightful statesman, and he was a slaveowner, and he was an excellent writer, and he constructed the somewhat dubious Jefferson Bible, and he founded a major university, all of that. Similarly with our other founders and heroes, and similarly with our country.

The best sense of patriotism is to step up and take responsibility for making this country the best that we can make it.

Click to expand...

I agree with what you said " Maybe simple stories will do for the tiniest children." When our children are young, teach the best aspects for a sense of the American constitution as an ideal sought for America.
I remember when thanksgiving time came, hearing about the pilgrims and American Indians sharing meals.
Acknowledgment of falling short, as falling short of the American ideal.
I also agree with the more complicated stuff for older students.

When we teach slavery etc, it should be taught as a subject in itself within world history. Slavery has existed in most all peoples. Even the servitude of people, among their own ethnicity.
Slavery in America should not be taught in a manner, that slavery was a phenomenon of unique to America. After all many ethnicity coming to America, sought freedom from lesser ideals than the nations of peoples they came from.
Forms of It can be found in all cultures within, history. In agreement with the truth you have spoken here "But as they mature into their tweens and teens and adulthood, talk about how people are complicated and nations are complicated."
This helps to focus on the constitution as our ideal as a country, and can offer a common respect for that. Our collective falling short of the value and goodness the constitution as what we aspire to, it does not diminish that ideal, but always strives to it.

PloverWing said:

When we mess up, we acknowledge it and try to fix it. And when we do good things -- as we often do -- we cheer and sing our songs and wave our flags. That's the sense in which I can be patriotic, and the sense in which I can encourage my children to be patriotic.

Click to expand...

I can be patriotic knowing what our founding fathers looked to for an ideal as a country.

RileyG said:

I can agree.

Click to expand...

My empire works against my principles fairly often. Not that the other empires do better.

I don't think Trump would of gotten elected if patriotism was declining that much. Trump ran on a very patriotic platform.

It makes perfect sense if you look at Robert Putnam's work on what social capital is and how America is losing it.
Bowling Alone - Wikipedia
This Harvard Professor basically has suggested for decades that America has been in decline since the 1950s. That the community that makes democracy work consists of doing things with groups and forming connections. That is becoming harder and harder to do for many and spells trouble for democracy. Trust in government too is declining. Biden for instance was almost absent. Trump is the opposite but he often rails on various people in government. Trust is eroded so much that even basic vaccines are not sure. Most too no longer trust the media, or even the courts. This too is the result of the use of money to buy government and justice. Many do not have that luxury yet they see that many rich do and that breeds resentment. Even certain church leaders are not trusted by many because of their emphasis on money. I will say that it spells trouble and will be hard to turn around. Various sides are getting more and more hateful towards each other and many Christians are participating.

Richard T said:

Most too no longer trust the media, or even the courts.

Click to expand...

Will someone pin misinformation on it? But, I don't even trust my own trusted sites because of the propensity to stoke favorability of goodness only when it is produced by their own, not commonly at all by their foe.

Akita Suggagaki said:

We are so divided now that at any time half the country seems to be patriotic and the other half dissatisfied with the people in authority and no longer willing to support them. The the pendulum swings and the reverse is in place.

We had a chance after 9/11. That brought us together. But it did not last long.

Click to expand...

May I ask the reader if he would uncover the heart of such bias, here the populous sits waiting for the next 'BIG MOVE' politically or socially while nurturing the hyper-partitioning of her divided soul. Gets occasionally interrupted by brief needs serves as a reminder, just as the band penned,


We may seem like we want to own division, I'm speaking of the BOC, , she was never intended to be schooled to stand apart from her own.

rocknanchor said:

Will someone pin misinformation on it? But, I don't even trust my own trusted sites because of the propensity to stoke favorability of goodness only when it is produced by their own, not commonly at all by their foe.

Click to expand...

Hi It is worse than I expected. I went into other categories as well. It looks super ugly.
Trust of judicial branch in the USA Americans’ trust in nation’s court system hits record low, survey finds
As far as trust in media - Americans' Trust in Media Remains at Trend Low
Congress - A slight uptick of a couple of percent but still only 22% Public Trust in Government: 1958-2024
Government in general. - "Pew Research Center data from May 2024 shows that 22% of Americans trust the U.S. federal government to do what is right. This represents a slight increase from 16% in 2023, which was near a seven-decade low. Trust in government is generally higher among those whose party holds the presidency; for example, Democrats' trust in government is higher than Republicans."
Trust in each other - "Americans trust each other less than they did a few decades ago. The share of adults who said “most people can be trusted” declined from 46% in 1972 to 34% in 2018, according to the General Social Survey." Americans’ Trust in One Another
Churches - 32 % have trust in churches. A Third of Americans Trust the Church - Lifeway Research

Patriotism in and of itself, is neither a good or bad thing. Many Nazi's were no doubt patriotic supporters of Germany, which most probably rightly consider a bad thing. Being patriotic about a nation which stands for freedom, liberty, and justice for all, should conversely therefore be a good thing. The question is, does our nation still do so, and or influence other nations accordingly?

Richard T said:

It is worse than I expected. I went into other categories as well. It looks super ugly.

Click to expand...

Oh my yes! The last few decades of characters have rendered a detrimental effect upon so many countries, wherein here in the US, I could concur. Conversely, with the introduction of the tens of millions of romanticizing MAGA voters, I do anticipate a sharp uptick to those standings!

rocknanchor said:

Oh my yes! The last few decades of characters have rendered a detrimental effect upon so many countries, wherein here in the US, I could concur. Conversely, with the introduction of the tens of millions of romanticizing MAGA voters, I do anticipate a sharp uptick to those standings!

Click to expand...

Yes, we share the same conclusions I believe.