Status Updates From Reclaiming Patriotism in an...

In the section I read this morning, Smith writes about Abraham Lincoln and how he expressed and identified patriotism during his presidency. Smith writes, "It [patriotism] is not simply an unreflective attachment to America as it then existed, but is connected to the vision of America that Lincoln hoped to achieve." I thought that this perspective was really well articulated and important to keep in mind today.

"Patriotism, as I will argue is never simply blind devotion, but is always formed by reason and judgement. These qualities demand not just deliberation by action when we fall short of our own expectations." Steven B. Smith is making his position clear in this sentence--he doesn't believe that Patriotism is a fine line/balance between devotion and reasonable judgement.