The United States Needs a Revival of Patriotism, by Russell Shaw
Changing the Narrative, by Stephen P. White
June 27, 2024
Founder’s Quote
June 27, 2024
American flags are placed at every headstone, a total of 228,000 flags, in Arlington National Cemetery during “Flags in,” May 21, 2015, in Arlington, Va. The Old Guard has conducted “Flags in,” when an American flag is placed at every headstone, since 1948. (U.S. Army photo by Rachel Larue/released). May 21, 2015. ... This file is a work of a U.S. Army soldier or employee, taken or made as part of that person's official duties. As a work of the U.S. federal government, it is in the public domain in the United States.
By Russell Shaw, EWTN News,
Russell Shaw is a veteran journalist and author of more than 20 books. He was secretary for public affairs of the U.S. bishops’ conference from 1969 to 1987 and director of information of the Knights of Columbus from 1987 to 1997. He has BA and MA degrees from Georgetown University and an honorary doctorate from The Catholic University of America.
Pope John Paul II drew a clear distinction between ‘exaggerated nationalism’ and ‘genuine love of country.’ But if patriotism isn’t nationalism, what is it?
As I salute the Fourth of July, here are a few troubled thoughts on patriotism.
Orestes Brownson, the most prominent American Catholic public intellectual of the 19th century, discerned a divinely bestowed mission for the United States, exceeding even the historic roles of the ancient Greek and Roman republics.
Here is how he put it in his book The American Republic:
The Greek and Roman republics asserted the state to the detriment of individual freedom; modern republics either do the same or assert individual freedom to the detriment of the state. The American republic has been instituted by Providence to realize the freedom of each with advantage to the other. ….
