To be unpatriotic in America is a character flaw

Opinion

Quin Hillyer, Deputy Commentary Editor

March 30, 2023 06:55 PM

Opinion

To be unpatriotic in America is a character flaw

Quin Hillyer, Deputy Commentary Editor

March 30, 2023 06:55 PM

Orioles Red Sox Baseball — Former Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz, left, walks onto the field with former Boston Bruin Shawn Thornton, former Boston Celtic Dana Barros and former New England Patriot Devin McCourty, from left, prior to a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles on opening day at Fenway Park, Thursday, March 30, 2023, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

A major new survey showing a marked decline in U.S. patriotism may overstate the case. But even after considering the caveats, the results show a growing national soul-sickness.

The survey, released March 27 in the Wall Street Journal, showed precipitously declining numbers
of people say they highly value such traditional virtues as patriotism, religion, community involvement, and child-rearing. For those of us who consider these old values to be important, all those numbers are worrisome, even though astute number-cruncher Patrick Ruffini notes that a change in poll methodology from previous years means the true size of the decline is probably less than advertised.