Renewing Patriotism

Throughout its history, America's experiment in self-governance has been challenged by political and ideological conflict. But the intensity of today's internal divisions in our society, fueled by a steady erosion of citizens' shared values and accelerated by modern media and a broken educational system, has pushed our nation to the breaking point.How did we get here? Is there a path forward to renewing and strengthening the bonds among Americans? In Renewing Patriotism, military veteran John Schwan offers a soldier's perspective on the weakening of traditional values and institutions in America, exploring how citizens' embrace of common purpose and patriotism has gradually diminished from World War II to the present day--and proposing how to heal America's divisions and restore our national identity.Mr. Schwan's central thesis is that at the root of America's disunity is destruction of the bonds created through shared sacrifice and citizens' sense of their civic duty to serve our nation (whether in the military or by other means), as well as the erosion of religious faith among American citizens.