The Fairfax Alliance of Braver Angels held a January 13, 2026, conversation on the topic of “What is Patriotism”? Read-ahead materials were provided in advance and briefly summarized in a slide presentation to start the meeting. Participants were asked to share what the word patriotism means to them and how that definition may have changed over time. Many shared some very personal and moving stories; they are noted (unattributed) at the end of this thread. Thank you for those contributions to the dialogue.
Several common themes emerged:
Recognition of the benefits provided by the US Constitution. The US has been far from perfect over the past 250 years at living up to the ideals of that document. Yet the founding documents were particularly exceptional for their time period in establishing the means for cooperation among many different tribal factions and allowing those means to be amended over time.
Appreciation for those benefits that many Americans often take for granted. As one participant noted, US immigrants are asked to indicate in writing they’d take up arms on behalf of their new nation, whereas for many born in the US, that commitment isn’t in writing.
Deepening understanding of the subtleties of patriotism as one gets older. Several individuals particularly noted a differentiation between high school and college or armed services where they gained new and diverse experiences that demonstrated lack of opportunity for themselves or others.
A general sense that it’s appropriate for patriotism to balance some duty to serve the nation (or other community one is patriotic to) with a commitment to help guide those principles. That guidance can take many forms, voting being the most basic.
Also noted at the meeting were several opportunities to help volunteer with Braver Angels, ranging from Fairfax Alliance communications assistance to the Virginia state coordinator! Reach out to our Alliance co-leaders, Anne (asheerin@braverangels.org) or Ashesh (abanerjea@braverangels.org) for more information.
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Individual Comments
Patriotism is love. To understand more of it and open your heart to it. What does it mean to love something?
Complicated feelings as a black man who served honorably in the Air Force and as an intelligence officer who experienced significant racism
Patriotism for Americans is opportunity and possibility
The chance to have a voice and a vote that we should take seriously. For example, we should vote for ethical people who have the power to send others to war
Loyalty to our principles. Resistance, working with and through the process
I never thought about it much until this came up. Thought of patriotism as a right-wing obsession, flag waving, willing to fight for the country. Love is an action. Have courage to stand up and engage, understanding
I’m trying to be an ethical patriot getting involved with things that matter to me.
Aspirational.
Loyalty, willingness to cooperate with others. If you want to go far, go together.
Our Presidents swear to the constitution and that should be our guiding principle
My immigrant mother always told us we should work to improve where you are or we can leave. I don’t understand why people would prefer detention to going to any other country.
I am applying for naturalization. I love the country despite some bad politicians and bad policies. I have the right to engage, and I deeply appreciate the rule of law, rights, and stability. And, immigrants seem to know more about US laws, government and history.
Loving our country is like loving your family; they both sometimes drive you crazy. I believe we are created as equals and are endowed with equal rights because God created those, and that resonates on a deeply moral level. Nationalism is maybe about arrogance towards other places.
If your son is an addict your love for him doesn’t change; the same can be said for love of country.
When I see the American flag I feel something physically. Love. The ideas behind those patriots who fought for the country 250 years ago. That comes with obligations and a commitment to understanding about your country, and making sacrifices.
Aspirations and possibilities, the idea that we can become better. We are from all over the place and yet we can still steer the boat together in the right direction. We have an obligation to try.
We strive for a more perfect union. I grew up with the idea ‘my country right or wrong’ but now I appreciate the complexities.
Love despite imperfections, service and commitment to ideals in the Constitution and the Declaration. Voting. Appreciation for the blessing of living in a free democracy. We sing the national anthem as part of our Passover traditions.
I love the diversity of my country – it brings so much richness. We have to work together to improve our country.
I lived with an idealized version of patriotism during the years I served as an intelligence agent. An added nuance is the concept of “a more perfect union”.
Coming from Ukraine, my idea of patriotism included our culture and food and music. But we are struggling with the tangling up of nationalism and patriotism.
This is an experiment we’re working on: the rituals, those documents, aspirations. Being born here is a privilege that we sometimes lose sight of.
Do we get more individualistic because we’re surrounded by people who are different, so we group with people like us?
The declaration was the most freeing document in history at that time. The ideas and ambition of values of freedom, democracy. Invent the country from scratch as it were. Patriotism has to do with those values and uniqueness.
There’s a deep-rooted fanaticism about what this country is. Over time we see nuance and reality. Perfectly imperfect. Which country is perfect? We should root for our team.
I am committed to the ideals of freedom and democracy, rule of law, what will take us into the future. Can everyone be part of the economy? We should all engage in that.
My views have radically changed since recent events. I was so proud of what this country did for refugees and how we had welcomed or at least let others come and try. Now I fear we have betrayed those promises.