THE TPN TAKE
true patriotism, false patriotism, and other interesting media from our perspective
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Time: Twisted PatriotismSeptember 30, 2010 Editor Richard Stengel writes that "some forms of extremism in defense of a misguided sense of liberty can be poisonous" in his introduction to Time's study of the Tea Party movement. Read... -Letha |
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Craig Ferguson's Adventures as an Unlikely PatriotMarch 1, 2010 Craig Ferguson discusses being American with NPR's Talk of the Nation. Craig's perspectives on this nation and on patriotism are both thought-provoking and hilarious. Read... -Letha |
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Providing for Women Who ServeFebruary 23, 2010 A Veterans Administration medical center in Houston, TX is dedicated to providing quality health care for women who have served in the U.S. Military. Read... -Letha |
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Is denying climate change unpatriotic?February 15, 2010 Bill Nye the Science Guy talks with Rachel Maddow about people who refuse to accept that the climate on our planet is changing. Read... -Letha |
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Patriotism and the OlympicsFebruary 13, 2010 Andrew Belonsky poses some interesting questions abut the Olympic games, patriotism, and nationalism in this playful and challenging Death and Taxes piece. Read... -Letha |
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5 Things You Didn't Know About VeteransNovember 11, 2009 "Veteran's Day only happens once a year, but our nation's veterans need our support year-round. We've pulled together five facts about U.S. veterans, the great organizations that are supporting them and how you can help any time of the year." Then the article continues to list five facts about veterans, who is doing something about it, and how you can help Read... -Heidi |
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One Year Later: No Longer Time for DancingNovember 6, 2009 Michael Roth, the President of Wesleyan University (CT), talks about how the "euphoria of last November has turned to disappointment for many of the young men and women who celebrated so raucously on campus." Roth continues to explain the challenges of our country and our own President. Roth states,"[p]atriotism is not just something you feel when you get what you want." Read... -Heidi |
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How Patriotism Can Save AmericaNovember 6, 2009 Captain Paul K Chappell, who is currently serving in the army, really captured true patriotism in this piece. He mentions the people who have helped shape our country like Martin Luther King, Jr. and Susan B. Anthony. Chappell notes,"Only patriotism, not blind obedience or flag waving, can make America healthy and strong. Only patriotism can save America from itself." Read... -Heidi |
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Barack Obama's midnight trip to DoverNovember 2, 2009 This is the first time a President has participated in a dignified transfer since the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan began. Media Coverage was banned in dignified transfers during President George H.W. Bush's time in office. President Obama says it's a sobering reminder of the sacrifices of America's men and women in uniform. Read... -Heidi |
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Bono on ObamaOctober 21, 2009 Bono's piece in the New York Times explores the rebranding of America. "The Nobel Peace Prize is the rest of the world saying, 'Don’t blow it.'" Read... -Letha |
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What Is Patriotism?October 21, 2009 Janet Ritz discusses the patriotism of President Obama and his critics. Read... -Letha |
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Wake up like a true American with a flag clockSeptember 22, 2009 "You're a patriot, aren't you? You love your country? Of course you do. But if that's the case, why are you waking up to some normal alarm clock that doesn't start your day off with a dose of patriotism?" Unfortunately, patriotism is not consumerism. Read... -Heidi |
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Nation marks Sept. 11 with acts of volunteerismSeptember 16, 2009 On September 11, 2009 many Americans honored those lives who were lost in the September 11th attack that day. From New York to Pennsylvania and all across the country, people remember the "selfless spirit that helped mend a stricken nation eight years ago was renewed." Many people volunteered by tilling garden, cooking lunch at a shelter, and stuffed packages for military personnel overseas. Read... -Heidi |
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Service and patriotism are nonpartisanSeptember 16, 2009 An editorial article in the Chicago Daily Herald reads, "[...] Building social bonds and strong communities is precisely how we, as individuals, can help protect our democracy and stand up to its foes. An e-mail that has been circulating calls for people to fly the flag instead of observing the Day of Service. We don't see this as an either/or situation. Patriotism is neither conservative nor liberal. The same is true for community service. There's room for both, regardless of political persuasion." Read... -Heidi |
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Too young to remember but old enough to be patriotsSeptember 16, 2009 In an article from Naples News in Florida, sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade students talk about what patriotism means to them. One student named Erick Foritz read, “Patriotism does not just mean showing love for one’s country, like waving a flag around with your face painted. It means to show pride, have hope, give a thank you every now and then to someone who has done something for you.” Read... -Heidi |
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Patriotism is about living the ideals of the countryJuly 10, 2009 In the Huffington Post, Byron Williams, a columnist and pastor, explores the question, "what is patriotism, and what should it look like in the 21st century?" Read... -Heidi |
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True Patriotism: Colbert's Iraq TourJune 19, 2009 Fern Siegel of the Media Daily News Commentary explains how Stephen Colbert from The Colbert Report, "underscores the power of celebrity -- and using it for good. He's raised money through his WristStrong bracelets for the Yellow Ribbon Fund, which helps injured vets. He raised funds through donorschoose.org for school supplies for children of soldiers. Plus, the fake newsman is also donating proceeds from iTunes downloads of this week's episodes to the U.S.O." Read... -Heidi |
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Secessionist patriotism is one of convenienceJune 12, 2009 Arturo Mora, a Kansas City Star Midwest Voices columnist, explains that "[t]rue patriotism knows no ideology or party. It’s love of what this country stands for, and being willing to fight for these principles, regardless of who’s in charge." Read... -Heidi |
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Is XM radio questioning my patriotism?June 10, 2009 A blogger on the Daily Kos asks why XM radio is questioning his patriotism. Are the words "patriotism" and "patriot" the right words to use in this instance? Read... -Heidi |
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Despite the Crises, Seeing a Star-Spangled Destiny...June 10, 2009 Barry Gewen of The New York Times gives an engaging book review of The American Future: A History by Simon Schama. Gewen addressed how "[t]he patriotism on display in 'The American Future' is hardly the narrow and cramped sentiment that in recent years has come to define love of country; it is not belligerent and defensive chauvinism, neither Dick Cheney’s scowl nor Gov. Sarah Palin’s ostentatious flag lapel pin. It’s an inclusive affirmation of the ideals of openness, tolerance, diversity, equality and that much-abused concept, freedom." Read... -Heidi |
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WTIA: Draper says best time ever to start businessMay 30, 2009 Venture capitalist Tim Draper was an interesting topic on The Seattle Times' Brier Dudley's blog. Draper included the word "patriotism" in a list of bad terms to listen for on the radio and TV. Read Draper's explanation of patriotism. Read... -Heidi |
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Craigslist Founder Calls Social-Media Participation PatrioticMay 20, 2009 Craig Newmark, the founder of Craigslist, gives a new spin on patriotism. Read... -Heidi |
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Teens’ views on patriotism as individual as they areApril 22, 2009 The Macon Telegraph featured an article on teen patriotism by high school senior Maxine Anderson. Read... -Letha |
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President Signs National Service BillApril 22, 2009 "We need your service, right now at this moment in history. I'm not going to tell you what your role should be. That's for you to discover. But I'm asking you to stand up and play your part. I'm asking you to help change history's course, put your shoulder up against the wheel." Read... -Letha |
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September 11: National Day of ServiceApril 8, 2009 The Serve America Act, which includes a variety of measures to encourage public service, designates Sept. 11 as a national day of service. The idea is to transform Sept. 11 into a celebration of the volunteerism that swept the nation after the 2001 terrorist attacks. Read... -Letha |
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Chia ObamaMarch 29, 2009 No, it's not a joke. The company behind the Chia Pet and The Clapper, is selling a clay statuette of President Obama. The Seattle Times adds insult to injury with "Just add water and Obama's hair grows faster than the national deficit." Read... -Letha |
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Eco-Patriotism And Stimulating Your Local EconomyMarch 18, 2009 Here's an environmental spin on patriotism. According to treehugger.com, "Eco-patriots are a group of folks with the slogan 'Love for America, love for the environment.' Their mission is to help us all reduce our ecological footprint, and make that critical connection between personal action and environmental consequences." Read... -Heidi |
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Made in the USA CertificationMarch 16, 2009 A new start-up company offers certification and a rating systems for products made in America. According to The Economist, My American Jobs believes that certification will influence buyers more than ever in this economic and political climate. Read... -Letha |
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Chuck Norris threatens Texas secession... or even revolutionMarch 11, 2009 Chuck Norris blogs that he may run for president of an independent Texas "if the state of the union continues to turn into the enemy of the state." Norris also writes that American history may "need to record a second American Revolution." Read... -Letha |
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Find false patriotism on amazon.comFebruary 24, 2009 Some customers on amazon.com have beeg tagging books as "False Patriotism." Right now there are books with this tag: McCain's Promise and Is It True What They Say About Ann? Read... -Letha |
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Pinheads & PatriotsFebruary 19, 2009 Bill O'Reilly does a segment on his show, The O'Reilly Factor, called Pinheads & Patriots. According to O'Reilly a patriot is someone who does something good for the United States. A pinhead is someone who does something to hurt or embarass our country. See why O'Reilly should reconsider how he uses the word patriot in his segment. Read... -Heidi |
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Is American Car Patriotism Dead?February 19, 2009 Why aren't American families still adhering to American car patriotism? Jeffrey Feldmen discusses how the American auto industry benefited from "automotive nationalism." But now automakers like GM must update their motto from "buy American" to "buy green," to keep American car partiotism alive. Read... -Heidi |
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Bloggingheads: Is Patriotism Bad?February 12, 2009 Is patriotism good or bad? Watch Robert Wright of Bloggingheads.tv and Ramesh Ponnuru of National Review discuss patriotism, the economy, and a certain conservative political pundit. Read... -Heidi |
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Michael Kazin: A Liberal Revival of AmericanismFebruary 6, 2009 In this Washington Post opinion piece, Michael Kazin offers his take on the rise in patriotism among the American left. He writes about "Americanism" as a tool for winning votes and influence or as a battle ground to be fought for, overlooking the idea that love of country can belong to everyone. Read... -Letha |
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Kyl disappointed with Obama inaugural addressJanuary 26, 2009 Do conservatives feel like their patriotism is being questioned? Senator Kyl of Arizona says "he has every right to question and debate the issues, and cast a 'no' vote if he wants, without being considered 'unpatriotic.'" Read... -Heidi |
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President Obama's Inaugural AddressJanuary 22, 2009 President Obama calls for "a new era of responsibility." Read... -Letha |
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A Surprise for the RightJanuary 22, 2009 Political organizer, strategist, and author Robert Creamer discusses four reasons why "the election of Barack Hussein Obama has caused an intense feeling of patriotism to well up across the country." Read... -Heidi |
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Ten Goals for Obama's First 1,460 DaysJanuary 14, 2009 Mark Green collaborated with John Podesta on ten goals for a progressive president to reach in 2012 or 2016. These goals include: reducing poverty, enhancing democracy to stop special-interest vetoes, getting economic growth rates back to at least 3 percent, moving to clean, green low-carbon economy, reducing the costs--and expand the coverage--of healthcare, elevating science over politics in federal decision-making, restoring the rule of law and human rights as American values, educating children better for the global economy, fighting terrorism by working more cooperatively with allies, and reducing nuclear proliferation. Read... -Heidi |
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Left adjusts to a new patriotism under ObamaJanuary 6, 2009 Sasha Issenberg, of the Boston Globe, takes a look at how young American citizens are reclaiming patriotism. In less than two weeks, America will have a new president in Barack Obama and a renewed pride in what it means to be an American. Read... -Heidi |
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Patriotic pride in the dissent capitol of the USAJanuary 5, 2009 Many Berkeley radicals abandoned patriotism long ago, likening it to acceptance of government policies. With a new president entering the White House, many are taking a second look at the flag. Read... -Letha |
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Douglas Wilson discusses Obama as speech writerJanuary 5, 2009 The Boston Globe talks with Lincoln scholar Douglas Wilson about our 16th and 44th presidents as writers. "They share this idea that you have to embrace the history. You can't stand on the sideline. That doesn't mean that you're approving all the bad things that have been done. You're accepting them, understanding that they're part of the process, and then you engage the process to try to push things farther along toward the goal." Read... -Letha |
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Marriage of capitalism and stewardshipDecember 5, 2008 Bank of America and National Resources Defense Council together deliver a hard blow to destructive mauntaintop mining. Read... -Heidi |
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Mark Green picks up on progressive patriotismDecember 5, 2008 Mark Green’s piece in The Huffington Post explores Change for America and the idea that 2009 is the beginning of a new era for America. Read... -Letha |
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Chuck Norris on Hannity and ColmesDecember 5, 2008 Chuck Norris shows tremendous restraint. I kept waiting for him to roundhouse-kick Hannity for talking over him in this interview. We're left wondering what the book is about, so will just have to read it. From the inside flap, it sounds like Hannity had no need to silence Norris: Faith and traditional values are under incessant assault from the media, leftist lawyers, and the liberal establishment. The core message of the Declaration of Independence--that everyone has a God-given right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness--is under threat from liberals who deny the right to life (or even the very idea of God-given rights), and who think the answer to every problem is a government program. They think that God, if He exists, might not know best, but liberal-run government certainly does. Read... -Letha |
Praise for The True Patriot
"A must read for progressives and conservatives alike. Eric Liu and Nick Hanauer return the definition of patriotism to the founders' ideal and challenge all of us to put aside meaningless partisanship and rise up through sacrifice and innovation to face the practical realities of the 21st century."