Real
Patriotism is not cheap
A
few words about patriotism – something we talk a lot about, especially around
July 4th, but seldom stop to examine its real meaning.
True
patriotism isn’t simply about waving the American flag. And it’s
not mostly about securing our borders from outsiders.
It’s
about coming together for the common good.
Real patriotism is not cheap. It requires taking on a fair share of the burdens of keeping America going – being willing to pay taxes in full rather than seeking tax loopholes and squirreling away money abroad.
Patriotism
is about preserving and protecting our democracy, not inundating it with big
money and buying off politicians.
True
patriots don’t hate the government of the United States. They’re proud of it.
They may not like everything it does, and they justifiably worry when special
interests gain too much power over it. But true patriots work to improve our
government, not destroy it.
Finally,
patriots don’t pander to divisiveness. They don’t fuel racist or religious or
ethnic divisions. They aren’t homophobic or sexist.
To
the contrary, true patriots seek to confirm and strengthen the “we” in “we the
people of the United States.”
Have
a happy and safe Fourth of July.
ROBERT B. REICH, Chancellor’s Professor of Public Policy at
the University of California at Berkeley and Senior Fellow at the Blum Center
for Developing Economies, was Secretary of Labor in the Clinton administration.
Time Magazine named him one of the ten most effective cabinet secretaries of
the twentieth century. He has written thirteen books, including the best
sellers “Aftershock" and “The Work of Nations." His latest,
"Beyond Outrage," is now out in paperback. He is also a founding
editor of the American Prospect magazine and chairman of Common Cause. His new
film, "Inequality for All," is now available on Netflix, iTunes, DVD,
and On Demand.