Opinion - This Memorial Day, love America enough to fight for it
As we honor the people who have died while serving in the U.S. military, let's also consider how we can honor the American promise for which they sacrificed.
This year, I've been thinking about two people who taught me different ways of looking at and loving our country.
One is Norman Lear, the legendary television producer, energetic activist and founder of my organization, People For the American Way. Lear dropped out of college after the attack on Pearl Harbor to join the Army Air Force, and flew more than 50 missions on a bomber crew to liberate Europe from fascism. He was a lifelong patriot and a lover of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.
Lear was, up to his final breath, a dogged optimist that people working together could move us closer to the ideals in those documents, even if he was, like many of us, discouraged at times when our progress was threatened.
On his 100th birthday, he wrote, 'I am a flag-waving believer in truth, justice and the American way, and I don't understand how so many people who call themselves patriots can support efforts to undermine our democracy and our Constitution.'
I second that emotion.
The second person I'm thinking about is James Baldwin, the brilliant social critic and one of my favorite authors.
My mother introduced me to Baldwin's writings when I was young as a way of helping me understand what it meant to be a Black man in America. Baldwin also helped me understand what it means to be American.
'I love America more than any other country in the world,' Baldwin wrote in 1955, 'and, exactly for this reason, I insist on the right to criticize her perpetually.'
Baldwin and Lear are no longer with us, but there are many brilliant and loving critics who are raising their voices today to defend the Constitution and American ideals. I am proud to align myself with them.
Of the many lies perpetuated by President Trump and his allies, one of the most untrue and malicious is that liberals, Democrats, or whoever is their target of the moment, 'hate America.'
You can see and hear that false charge everywhere — on social media, from MAGA commentators and publications, right-wing pollsters and even Elon Musk and members of Congress.
Even members of the military aren't safe from being smeared.
The patriotism of high-ranking officers is denigrated. The libraries at our esteemed military academies are subject to an ideological purge. Meanwhile, Trump's recent speech to troops stationed in Qatar was wildly self-aggrandizing and inappropriately partisan.
One of the most ridiculous examples I've seen was Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) charging that Democrats hate America because they weren't enthusiastic about her effort to enshrine in legislation the president's executive order renaming the Gulf of Mexico.
On what grounds do they make the claim that people who have devoted their lives to service as elected officials, teachers and community activists supposedly hate this country? It's pure propaganda. It's offensive. And it's damaging to our political culture.
In fact, all it takes to get smeared by MAGA is criticizing Trump or part of his political agenda.
Defending the rights of immigrants to due process. Opposing the reckless destruction of the Department of Government Efficiency's mindless mass firings of scientists, park rangers and other public servants. Supporting the separation of church and state to protect all Americans' religious freedom.
To my mind, people taking time to do any of those things is a sign that they love our country enough to fight for what is best about it.
Insisting that Trump is required to follow the law and abide by the Constitution is patriotic.
As the president prepares to make himself the centerpiece of this year's military parade and next year's celebration of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, remember this: America was founded in resistance to the tyranny of a king.
Resisting Trump's efforts to act like a mad and unaccountable king is a profoundly patriotic act.
Svante Myrick is president of People For the American Way.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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