Thread by @AmericanStudier

When I've given my book talks for Of Thee I Sing, I start with a quote from @AndrewMcCormck's vital 1/7/21 @thenation article.+
thenation.com/article/politi…

When the police begin firing tear gas at the insurrectionists, McCormick reports: “This is not America,” a woman said to a small group, her voice shaking. She was crying, hysterical. “They’re shooting at us. They’re supposed to shoot BLM, but they’re shooting the patriots.”

Just two days after #January6th, I gave the first such book talk, for Chicago's @GCELabSchool. That meant I immediately had to grapple with whether & how to think about those insurrectionists through the lens of patriotism.
gcelabschool.org/2021/01/the-pa…

They'd likely describe themselves as active patriots, the category (of the four I trace in Of Thee I Sing) that highlights those who serve & sacrifice in an effort to push the nation closer to its ideals. But I think the quote from McCormick's article reveals the truth.

That woman's contrast of her group with #BlackLivesMatter reveals how deeply the #January6th insurrection was driven by what I define as mythic patriotism, the kind that relies on an exclusionary, white supremacist vision of America as the ideal being celebrated & fought for.

So #January6th does reflect the contested history of American patriotism, reminding us that mythic patriotism has always depended on exclusionary violence--ideological, rhetorical, political, but most definitely actual as well--to express & enforce its vision of the nation.

We certainly did see active patriotism as well on #January6th, to be clear--in the officers who fought to save the capitol & the nation, & in the Congressional staffers who fought to save the election & our democracy.

& we've seen a great deal more critical patriotism in the work of the #January6thCommittee, & in their willingness to confront our hardest collective truths (recent but also longstanding) in an effort to challenge & transcend the worst of us & push us a bit closer to our best.

For more on those categories & the contested history of American patriotism, check out Of Thee I Sing (& I have an e-copy I'm happy to email anyone who wants to learn more):
rowman.com/ISBN/978153814…

I've had the chance to give many book talks, podcast interviews, etc. about the book, but would always love the chance to chat with any & all communities, including classes/students. Feel free to reach out, here or by email ([e-mail])!

americanstudier.blogspot.com/p/book-talks-p…

PS. Forgot that I also wrote for @SatEvePost about patriotism & #January6th for the 1-year anniversary:
saturdayeveningpost.com/2022/01/consid…