Category Archives: Citizenship

As our values are challenged in the public sphere and our culture changes in opposition to the things we hold dear, we may find ourselves wondering how to keep our voices from being drowned out. As I have traveled the country in public service, I have often heard the lament, “Someone needs to do something about this!” As citizens of a democratic republic, that someone is you and me. And the action we take may be best executed and informed when we have a passion or personal stake in the matter.

Every Fourth of July, recent polls have reflected a decline in patriotism, pride, and love for America. American citizenship unifies communities, states, and even other nations in common cause. National exceptionalism of peoples and nations should be nurtured and encouraged everywhere. So, what is your idea of citizenship, America, and freedom? What is it worth? What would you give or do for these ideas and place?

In the United States of America, both concepts—citizenship and patriotism—are intrinsically related to the concept of freedom. The Founding Fathers envisioned a wider participation in the government from the part of independent moral people who felt the responsibility of improving their lives, the lives of their families, and the lives of their communities. They envisioned a nation of proud independent and freedom loving people that would respect and defend their their home, their city, their country.

How did we come to honor the American Flag with a day of its own? And why is the flag still our best symbol of American unity and freedom.

This last Memorial Day was punctuated by a brief civics lesson before dinner with friends and family. I posed the question: How is Memorial Day different from Veterans Day?  The children quickly suggested it had something to do with honoring our military. I then gave the example of a family member giving their life forContinue reading “Citizenship and Character”

As I was establishing the academy, I asked The Reagan Foundation if they would consider putting together a video of Ronald Reagan’s speeches for a school I hoped to establish. My desire was to ensure generations who never knew him would see and understand who he was and why he was known as such an exceptional leader and as “The Great Communicator.”