As we celebrate July Fourth, we all need to think about patriotism

Washington Report

You’ve all seen the news coverage of athletes kneeling during our national anthem, activists burning American flags, and street mobs defacing statues of our founders.

While these are extreme examples, we shouldn’t discount them—they’re a bellwether for a larger societal problem.

In 2022, those claiming they are “extremely proud” of being Americans hit a record low. Last year, a study found that the percentage of Americans saying patriotism is “very important” plummeted from 70 percent in 1998 to 38 percent.

This loss of national pride is especially rampant among young Americans. While 59 percent of seniors say patriotism is very important, only 23 percent of adults under age 30 say the same. These numbers concern me—and they should concern all of us. Patriotism, that wonderful love of country, has held our nation together for almost 250 years.

Our small and inexperienced Continental Army defeated a world power in the Revolutionary War because we were united in purpose, despite religious affiliation or national origin. The Civil War threatened that unity and our nation’s very existence, but we again emerged reunified, in no small part thanks to the patriotism of our citizens and leaders. It was patriotism that motivated hundreds of thousands to fight for our country in the world wars, and it is patriotism that motivates thousands more to defend us today.

Love of country does not mean that we overlook our nation’s flaws. Quite the opposite—patriotism can inspire Americans to right wrongs, making our grand experiment even better.

Consider our ancestors who spent their lives fighting injustices, including the abolitionist, suffragist, and Civil Rights movements. When you love something, you don’t give up on it— you work hard to make it an even better version of itself.

Common cause in our shared nationality affects almost all aspects of American life. When communities and states are unified by a common love for country, we cooperate and care about others more. Patriotism helps neighbors get along, builds trust in communities, and inspires the right people to run for office. Patriotism inspires us to put the good of the country before ourselves— in short, patriotism is what makes our country great.

Without patriotism’s inspiration and unity, we would not have overcome our nation’s many trials. And without patriotism, we will not survive the trials still to come. Our nation faces external threats from two nuclear powers, China and Russia. It faces internal threats from growing partisan division. To stand against any of them, we must help our fellow Americans, especially the next generation, rediscover their shared love of country.

Americans today enjoy unprecedented levels of freedom and prosperity. It’s easy to lose perspective and take these blessings for granted, but we must teach young Americans that they are hard-won. America is the only nation founded not on a shared race or ethnicity, but on the ideals of liberty, equality, and justice. Millions upon millions of Americans have given their lives to defend those ideals.

My love of our state and of America inspired me to run for office, where I’ve worked hard to build Nebraska and keep our nation safe. It’s the honor of my life to represent our state in one of America’s most vital institutions: the U.S. Senate. I am committed to preserving that institution and the nation it upholds.

This Fourth of July, I hope we all consider ways to share our patriotism—whether it’s volunteer work, military service, or teaching the next generation to value America.

Patriotism is on the decline, but it doesn’t have to stay that way. Independence Day is a reminder that our nation is built on patriotism—but it can only continue to thrive through that shared love of country.