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Patriotism Comes In Many Forms                          #395

By Hank Silverberg 


Over the last week we have seen a massive celebration of the 250th anniversary of our country. 

Many of the celebrations were traditional fireworks and parades, but the oppressive heat dimmed the fun for much of the U.S. 

We are living in a great country. No, not "great again", but simply great. From the day the Second Continental Congress signed the Declaration of Independence (actually on July 9th) until this day, democracy American style has been a great experiment with ups, downs, and at times stagnation. You probably heard a lot about that experiment this past weekend. And that was a good reminder that as great as we are, we are not perfect as a nation and probably never will be.   

You also heard a lot about patriotism. And that is where I get annoyed. 

What is patriotism?  It's not just flying or saluting the flag or singing the national anthem. It's not just serving in the military, though that is patriotic. It's not just holding public office. 

Patriotism includes giving back to your community to make it better. That includes everything from giving to the local food bank or speaking up against injustice, or giving back what you learned over a lifetime to the next generation. 

It also includes the woman who runs a neighborhood daycare center that allows other women to work, and people who join community groups that help the poor and disabled, or people who volunteer in local politics.    

What bothers me right now is the bombardment from the right of sunshine patriots who think they are patriotic because they have a flag on their lapel or in their yard, but they have never read the Constitution and don't understand separation of church and state or what freedom of speech really means.

I was pretty much disgusted that President Trump mixed in partisanship with the big 250 celebration.  It's one of the reasons many people had a sour taste in their 4th of July celebration. That's all I will write about the attempt by the right to take over America's birthday as their own. 

Missed by much of the media this past weekend was a march in Washington by about 450 people. They call themselves the "patriot front" and they promote the idea of a homogenous, white ethno-state for the USA.  They wore uniforms, had combat shields and drums, but they covered their faces. The group, clearly fascists, was chanting "Reclaim America". They carried the Stars and Stripes, but some of them also carried the Confederate flag. These folks also claimed to be patriotic, when in fact they are against everything America stands for. 

Patriotism is in the heart. There is no way these heartless cowards behind the masks were being patriotic. I would say they, and other groups like them, are anti-American. 

We are a diverse country, diverse by color, by religion, by ethnic origin and many other things.

True patriots who understand the American Experiment understand this.  Those who preach nationalism or claim America is only for  white Christians don't really understand the country they say they love.  


News You May Have Missed

If you talk to young people or college students, they will tell you they must use AI, it's the future. They will never get a job if they don't know how to use it, they say. Well, now a new working paper from researchers at the Harvard Business School say AI native startups are building smaller and using fewer entry level workers.   

The study, titled "AI-Native Firms" took a look at startups between 2020 and 2024. These are companies that use AI to make employees more productive, and embed AI direction into what the company sells so you can use the product and can perform work that used to be done by people. 

The smaller firms have 25% less employees, have about 13% more engineers, and their entry level and managers are 15% fewer than non-AI native startups.  

The study debunks the accepted premise that AI is reshaping entry level jobs. And it found that AI is creating greater demand for expert level talent. 

Now, I am not sure what this means for all those Gen Z students currently getting trained in AI. Like many things involving computers, the demand usually changes rapidly before the training does.   


https://finance.yahoo.com/technology/ai/articles/ai-native-startups-hiring-fewer-090302487.html?fr=yhssrp_catchall


Stars And Stripes--Not Forever?

There's  another effort by the Trump Administration to control the media and the message. Stars and Stripes serves the nation's military community and is read by an average of 14 million people a day, mostly online these days. It has long maintained editorial independence from the Pentagon, even though it is part of the Department of Defense and reporters are Pentagon employees. It was first published during the Civil War and then revived by Black Jack Pershing during World War One, and it has published every day since.    

But back in January the Pentagon spokesman posted on X that: 

"We are bringing Stars & Stripes into the 21st century. We will modernize its operations, refocus its content away from woke distractions that syphon morale…"

But there was never any real explanation, and Stars and Stripes went on as it was.  

Now that has changed. A memo in March put more restrictions on the paper, barred them from running comics and any stories from the Associated Press after the President's dispute with the AP over the suggested name change of the Gulf of Mexico. And the Pentagon has rescinded a federal regulation directing that Stars and Stripes' operations be handled "without news management or censorship" from the Pentagon brass.  

Then Jacqueline Smith, the paper's former ombudsman, wrote an editorial in April that began "Pete Hegseth doesn't want you to see cartoons in this newspaper anymore." 

She was fired by the DOD.

Two members of the paper's advisory board have now filed a lawsuit accusing the Defense Department of violating the First Amendment. There has been no comment from the DOD on the suit. 

This is just the latest attempt to control the message. The Trump Administration has been attacking the media constantly, and currently is threatening to take away some broadcast licenses from Disney/ABC because of news coverage they think is biased against Mr. Trump. 

https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/battle-over-stars-stripes-132708990.html


https://yournews.com/2026/06/29/7088121/disney-owned-abc-stations-face-fcc-license-challenge-from-conservative-groups/

Dumbest Quote Of The Week

 This week's dumb quote goes to White House Spokesman Taylor Rogers. He said it on Friday right after President Trump visited Mount Rushmore. 

 "There would be no better addition to the iconic Mount Rushmore than the 45th and 47th President of the United States, Donald Trump." 


For the record, there is no room on the current Mount Rushmore for another carving. The monument is located in the Black Hills of South Dakota on land taken from the Sioux Nation. It was completed in 1941 after 14 years of carving. It depicts Washington, Jefferson, Teddy Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln, who were chosen to represent our nation's founding, expansion, development and preservation, none of which would include Trump. Two million people visit each year. 


(You suggestions and comments  are welcome)

My recent book "The Campaign" can be purchased at the links below. Or you can buy a copy by emailing me at:  HankSilverberg@gmail.com for instructions on how to get a copy at a reduced price and with my signature)                       

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-campaign-hank-silverberg/1126429796


My NEWEST book is now available. It is designed for use in Public Speaking and entry level communications classes. 


                                               
                   You will find the book here:                                                                      https://a.co/d/09fiY9sq



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