After a heated and divisive presidential election, Americans excitedly await the start of the holiday season to decompress and reflect on the past and dream of the future.
This year, much to the chagrin of millions of Americans, come January 20, 2017, the United States will be under the leadership of President-Elect Donald J. Trump.
In the days subsequent to the election, young Americans took to the streets in major cities like New York and Chicago to protest the election results and recalcitrantly declared, “Trump is not my President!”
Calls for the dismantling of the “archaic” Electoral College dominated debate on television as pundits bemoaned the early governmental decisions made by our Founding Fathers. To many, the electoral loss of Hilary Clinton was attributed to the system and way of governance established by our Founding Fathers.
Convinced the Electoral College was the only impediment to Hillary Clinton’s success, some have openly questioned the wisdom and legacy of our Founding Fathers and have harshly criticized the institutions that make-up the framework of American government.
From comedians to celebrities, there has been outspoken criticism on social media and elsewhere centered on the premise that “times have changed,” and our electoral process needs to reflect that perceived “change.”
As we kick-off the holiday season, I hope the nation can heal and every American can be proud of our institutions and can respect the principles that founded this great nation. We especially need to teach our children about the history of our country and instill a sense of pride and admiration for the uniqueness of the American system of government.
Historically, Americans have always tended to be a patriotic group.
Compared with people in other countries, Americans express more pride in their nation. Most Americans say that being American is an important part of their identity. Older Americans remain more devoted to American principles while young Americans are significantly less patriotic.
The lower levels of patriotism may among younger generations may explain the heated rhetoric and highly partisan attitudes. How can we reverse this trend?
Inspiring patriotism is one of the causes close to my heart, and I was impressed by the work done in this area by Michael Warren, Oakland County Michigan, Circuit Court Judge and co-creator of the Patriot Week Foundation. Mr. Warren and his daughter created the Patriot Week Foundation with idea to strengthen our commitment to the American Dream and the U.S Constitution.
