by David Lindfield
The New Yorker is facing backlash after publishing a lengthy essay attempting to explain why patriotism has fallen out of favor among many on the political Left while simultaneously arguing that progressives should reclaim patriotic language on their own terms.
The article presents declining levels of national pride as a result of growing awareness of America’s historical shortcomings, including slavery, racial discrimination, and the treatment of Native Americans.
The liberal outlet argues that traditional patriotism asks Americans to overlook those injustices and suggests a new definition of patriotism is needed.
But in doing so, the essay highlights a growing divide between Americans who celebrate the nation’s founding principles and those who increasingly view the country through the lens of grievance politics and historical guilt.
The Left’s War On Patriotism
The New Yorker points to polling showing that fewer Americans today describe themselves as “extremely proud” to be American and notes that some Americans have even considered moving abroad in recent years.
The publication links part of that trend to President Donald Trump’s political rise and argues that progressive activism has made patriotism less appealing on the Left.
The essay openly acknowledges that what many Americans refer to as “wokeness” has contributed to declining admiration for the United States among progressives.
Rather than viewing America primarily through the lens of its achievements, the article focuses heavily on the nation’s historical failures and argues that those failures should shape modern conceptions of patriotism.
That argument reflects a broader trend that has dominated progressive politics for years — one that elevates America’s flaws while often minimizing its extraordinary accomplishments.
Revisionist History and Selective Outrage
The article repeatedly emphasizes slavery, segregation, and other historical injustices while presenting them as central to understanding America today.