Citizenship was a kind of filial piety, made possible in part because, in general, they were homogeneous peoples descended from the same ancestors, few in number, and inhabiting an area smaller than the District of Columbia. This was well understood in the countries (or cities) of classical antiquity, where citizens were patriots who loved their country simply because it was their country-because it was "their birthplace and the mansion of their fathers," as Alexis de Tocqueville put it in his famous Democracy in America. Patriotism implies a love of country, a readiness to sacrifice for it, perhaps even a willingness to give one's life for it. The word itself comes from the Latin patria, meaning country. This patriotism is cultivated when students learn about the value of the democratic idea, the people and events that shaped this country and its principles, the symbols that trigger love for it, and the sacrifices that have been made by Americans of every generation to ensure its survival, spread, and improvement. We must be unabashed, thoughtful, and conscious about nurturing it.
#Chords in take a break hamilton free#
In this article, the author takes us through history to define a uniquely American patriotism-one based not on "my country right or wrong," but on the fact that it is a free country and because, as Lincoln once said of Henry Clay's patriotism, in that freedom can be found "the advancement, prosperity, and glory of human liberty, human right, and human nature."īut, says the author, such a patriotism doesn't come naturally or easily. Where the anthem had not been sung, it's being sung where the Pledge had not been said, it's being said where Veterans Day had not been celebrated, it was celebrated. In the wake of September 11, the signs of a reinvigorated patriotism are everywhere-including in the schools.
As writer George Packer wrote in the New York Times this past fall, "to be stirred by national identity, carry a flag, and feel grateful toward someone in uniform" had come to be, prior to September 11, "a source of embarrassment." Many believed this emphasis had waned in recent years-partly in response to complaints of "ethnocentrism" partly because the need for patriotic citizens seemed remote partly because, in some quarters, in and out of the schools, it just seemed to be out of style-a little crude, a little primitive. AFT resources for organizing and back to school programsįrom the beginning, America's public schools have been charged with instilling in students a love of country.What Kids, Teachers and Communities Need.Safe and welcoming public schools for all.DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals).Standing united to protect immigrant rights.Standing in Solidarity with Our AAPI Community.Paraprofessionals & school-related personnel.
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