| This week at RealClear’s American Civics portal starts off with the latest essay in our 1776 Series. Steven B. Smith of Yale University defends patriotism as an expression of fealty to a free and decent country. He contrasts patriotism from a degraded nationalism that aims to exclude and a multiculturalism and cosmopolitanism that deny the importance of particular nations. Importantly, he rejects the fashionable claim that America is fundamentally defined by slavery, racism, and white supremacy. In a lecture series at the James Madison Program at Princeton University, Daniel J. Mahoney rejects the idea that politics is nothing more than a Machiavellian grab for power. He draws attention to great statesmen throughout history who showed the capacity for a greatness of soul and a deep understanding of moderation – not as centrism but as a prudential application of timeless truths. At City Journal, Mahoney reviews Glenn Ellmers’s recent book, “The Soul of Politics: Harry V. Jaffa and the Fight for America.” He argues that the pathbreaking work of Jaffa, the political philosopher and teacher who brought the teachings of Aristotle, Thomas Aquinas, Lincoln to bear on our present moment, should cause “the noble and spirited among us, including the young, to fight for what is worth preserving in our civic and civilizational inheritance.” At the American Civics portal, Samuel J. Abrams reports on the findings of a recent survey that shows students are a more active part of our nation than is commonly thought. The survey, which was released in September and sampled over 1,500 college students nationally, shows that large disparities in voter participation by race and socio-economic status do not exist. “Eighty percent of black students are registered to vote,” Abrams reports, “compared to 71 percent of white students and 67 percent of Hispanic and Latino students.” Original Posts Steven B. Smith, RealClearPublicAffairs Mention the term “patriot” or “patriotism” on a university campus or in educated circles and you are likely to hear Samuel Johnson’s... Samuel J. Abrams, RealClearPublicAffairs Essential Reading Daniel J. Mahoney, City Journal For those who remain faithful to the spirit of American republicanism, there is no doubt that the American political order is... In the News Katharine C. Gorka, Johnson City Press David French, Dispatch Matthew J. Frank, Public Discourse Washington Examiner Jay Evensen, Deseret News David Adler, Williston Herald Becky Little, History.com Mike Gonzalez, Daily Signal Stephen P. Halbrook, Independent Institute Brooke L. Rollins, Carol Swain, & Phil Bryant, Washington Times Scott Gerber, Law & Liberty Andrew Hartz & Samantha Hedges, RealClearEducation Nick Lasala, The Pilot Daniel Farber, History News Network David Lewis Schaefer, RealClearPolicy Chris Flannery, American Story The beautiful 17-year-old actress Madeleine LeBeau fled Paris in June, 1940, just hours before the Germans marched in... Mike Pence & Jeff Sikkenga, American Idea On this very special episode of The American Idea, Jeff welcomes former Vice President Mike Pence to the Schramm Library... Robert J. Norrell & Tony Williams, Bill of Rights Institute How did Booker T. Washington, prominent African American educator and intellectual, contribute to understanding the Black... Mary Grabar & Tim Benson, Ill Literacy Heartland’s Tim Benson is joined by the Alexander Hamilton Institute’s resident fellow Mary Grabar to discuss her new book... David B. Kopel, Judge J. Michael Luttig, & Jeffrey Rosen, We the People On November 3, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in New York State Rifle in Pistol Association Inc. v. Bruen... Daniel J. Mahoney, James Madison Program The lecture will challenge the widespread, even dominant, view of politics as nothing but a vehicle for raw power and domination... Forrest Nabors, Michael Les Benefict, William Barney, & David Randall, National Association of Scholars What hopes did the American people share for the Reconstruction Era? Following the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln... Benjamin Storey, & Jay Shapiro, The Dillemma You know that strange nagging restlessness that you feel in your core? That difficulty focusing on what’s in front of you... Carl Cannon's Great American Stories Today's quote of the week comes from contemporary Southern writer Margaret Renkl, with an assist from Welsh-born writer George Herbert, ... Nearly six decades ago, a young guitarist who went by the name of Dick Dale began playing dance music at ... On this date in 1919, Congress overrode Woodrow Wilson's veto to pass the Volstead Act, which set in place the ... | 