America has known turmoil. For 250 years, the nation has weathered storms of political unrest and outright violence, a pattern that seemed to finally subside in the late 1970s. The eighties and nineties weren’t entirely peaceful, but they lacked the pervasive, driving force of protest that had defined previous decades.
Then, in 1999, a chair shattered a window in Seattle, signaling a shift during the World Trade Organization protests. The occupation of Wall Street in 2011 and the widespread unrest following the death of George Floyd in 2020 confirmed a disturbing trend: protest culture had returned, and with a renewed intensity.
Today, the echoes of the 1960s and 70s resonate with chilling clarity. Amidst ongoing confrontations, we mourn losses and grapple with a sense of escalating danger. It feels as though the nation is once again caught in a maelstrom of division and conflict.
What brought an end to the era of near-constant protest that plagued America in the 1970s? The answer, surprisingly, appears to be a single, powerful force: patriotism. A wave of national pride swept across the country, offering a stark contrast to the cynicism and disillusionment that had come before.
The year 1976 marked a turning point, coinciding with the nation’s bicentennial celebrations. Despite lingering wounds from Vietnam and the shadow of Watergate – parallels to our current struggles with recent wars and political scandals – a renewed sense of national identity began to emerge.
Ronald Reagan’s presidency ushered in what he famously called “morning in America.” The 1980s witnessed a surge in patriotic fervor. Songs like “Born in the USA” (often misinterpreted) filled the airwaves, and cinematic triumphs like Rocky defeating the Soviet boxer Ivan Drago ignited national pride. Olympic victories, from Carl Lewis to Mary Lou Retton, were celebrated as collective achievements.
For Generation X, the tales of their parents’ activist pasts seemed distant and irrelevant. With the Cold War won and America standing as the world’s sole superpower, there simply wasn’t much to protest. The future felt bright, and the prospect of solving even complex problems like the Y2K scare seemed within reach.
But the dawn of the 21st century brought a troubling reversal. A subtle erosion of patriotism began, fueled by the rise of political correctness and, eventually, “wokeness.” The education system increasingly focused on America’s flaws, framing its history as a narrative of oppression rather than progress.
This shift in perspective fostered a climate of self-recrimination and division. History was no longer presented as a complex story of striving for a more perfect union, but as a fixed system designed to benefit some at the expense of others. The rhetoric became increasingly toxic, and the consequences are now painfully clear.
Looking ahead to the nation’s 250th birthday, coupled with hosting major global events like the World Cup and the Olympics, and the potential for positive foreign policy developments, there’s an opportunity to rekindle that sense of national pride. A resurgence of patriotism could be the key to healing the divisions that threaten to tear the country apart.
Recent polls reveal a stark divide. While 92% of Republicans express strong pride in their country, only 36% of Democrats share that sentiment. This disparity is a powerful predictor of political alignment and participation in protest movements. Patriotism, it seems, is at the heart of the current turmoil.
Patriotism isn’t simply a feeling; it’s a vital necessity. It’s a force that can unite a nation, inspire hope, and drive progress. And the remarkable truth is that each of us has the power to cultivate and celebrate it, every single day.
