What do you think: What constitutes patriotism?
Published: July 2, 2010
Pew Research Center this week reports that 84 percent of U.S. citizens surveyed are proud to live in America (14 percent said they were indifferent or ashamed), a number that has remained remarkably consistent over the last decade.
Since January 2001, the figure has hovered between 81 and 92 percent, even as political power has shifted dramatically in Washington D.C. from Democrats to Republicans and back again.
The study also notes that 59 percent of Americans display the flag at their home or office. But does that make someone patriotic? What about challenging our country’s leaders? Or voting? In a time when politicians risk accusations of being unpatriotic if they don’t wear a flag pin on their lapel, has the word “patriotic” become less meaningful?
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