| Last week’s curation at RealClear’s American Civics portal feature pieces that celebrate the 246th anniversary of American independence and reflect on the patriotism it should inspire in all Americans. At the New York Post, Guy Shepherd argues that contrary to the 1619 Project’s narrative that our country is fundamentally defined by the evils of slavery, Americans need to reconnect with the secret of our success: the self-evident truth that “all men are created equal.” “With these five words,” Shepherd writes, “a new order of the ages was born, and mankind was lifted up from subject to citizen.” Because all human beings are equal in their right to govern themselves, no one has a right to rule us without our consent. Shepherd urges all Americans to oppose identity politics and democratic leveling and work “to finish our nation’s unfinished business together” by living up to our founding principles and working within the bounds of the Constitution. Christopher Flannery writes that America’s future success depends upon following the traditions established by the American Founders and adopting their sense of justice, courage, and wisdom. The American experiment in self-government is founded upon the great principle of equality and the natural rights every person possesses – an argument that flies in the face of most of human history. Flannery argues that Americans demonstrated a “decent respect to the opinion of mankind” by setting out arguments in the Declaration that could be discussed and debated, thereby treating “mankind as if their opinions could respond to reasons.” “The Revolutionaries told the peoples of the world,” he continues, “how they might show greater respect for themselves, by recognizing and asserting the rights of their own humanity.” Pavlos Papadopoulos discusses how patriotism should be understood as a virtue and sketches out the proper way to understand its attendant vices. He defines patriotism as “the moral virtue of proper piety to one’s country” and says it “is based on the well-cultivated and well-ordered sentiments of gratitude and loyalty.” He distinguishes this definition of virtue from two vices: those who “make a god of their country,” and those who “who neglect the common concerns of the political community.” In the News Jacob Posik, RealClearPolicy History.com Editorial Board, Boston Herald Rick Santorum, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Pavlos L Papadopoulos, PomoCon Musa al-Gharbi, NBC Tony Williams, Constituting America Middletown Press Michael Knox Beran, City Journal Becky Sullivan, NPR Josie Albertson-Grove, New Hampshire Union Leader Mark David Hall, Law & Liberty Megan Brenan, Gallup Benjamin Kleinerman, Constitutionalist Olivia B. Waxman, Time Matthew Spalding & Mark Bauerlein, First Things In the latest installment of an ongoing series, Mark Bauerlein interviews Matthew Spalding joins the podcast to discuss his recent book, The 1776 Report. John Avlon & Wiliam McKenzie, The Bush Center John Avlon, Senior Political Analyst at CNN, discusses Abraham Lincoln's influence on the spread of democracy. He also reminds us that self-government requires vigorous citizenship Mark Rozell & Tony Williams, BRI Scholar Talks What are the problems and concerns with the Unitary Executive Theory of the Presidency? In this episode of Scholar Talks, Dr. Mark... Carl Cannon's Great American Stories On this date in 1918, a young man from the Chicago suburbs was wounded in Italy fighting in the Great ... This morning I read a riveting account by baseball historian Frederic Frommer about Larry Doby's beginnings as a professional baseball player. It ... It's Friday, July 1, 2022, the day of the week when I pass along a quotation intended to be uplifting ... | 