A hopeful patriotism
On America's birthday we can criticize the country while also maintaining affection, pride, and a real feeling that we're all in this messy politics together.
Dear Cosmopolitans,
As we head into the holiday weekend, I wanted to wish you all a very happy Fourth of July.
and I are taking a break this week from Hot Takes Happy Hour for the holiday weekend. But you can still join us in celebrating America with a patriotic cocktail!Our nation’s birthday is a good moment to step back and celebrate the factors that make this country so special. Even amidst our political chaos and challenges to our democracy, America is the best country in the world.
Unfortunately, Gen Z doesn't feel the same way. As
, author of the terrific Substack and Up, writes, recent Gallup data shows less than half of Gen Z is proud to be an American. Of all age cohorts, Gen Z's pride is the lowest at just 41%. Rachel writes:From active shooter drills to climate change, police violence and calls for racial justice, an intense immigration debate and what many view as a botched reaction to the Covid-19 pandemic, Gen Z grew up amid national – and international – chaos. For a generation in constant crisis, who can blame them?
Rachel found sinking American pride is not just frustration with chaos and tumult. It’s disillusionment with U.S. politics as we know it. Hyper-polarization and a scathing political climate defined this generation’s childhood.
I hope you'll join me for a special Substack Live on MONDAY at 12p with Rachel to discuss her piece and explore her conversations with young Americans on how they feel about our country and how they see the future. Rachel is hopeful about Gen Z's desire for unity - not in an idealistic way, but simply to agree to disagree. Gen Z doesn't hate America, she says, “They want to love it. They're desperate for spaces that encourage dialogue, empathy, and respectful disagreement.”
There's a great deal happening in America that troubles me, particularly the polarization. We are fiercely divided on the issues, but remarkably alike in our angst and exhaustion. We see our country turning into something worrisome and unrecognizable. We talk a good game about liberty, but in practice that means respecting the freedom of other people to think and live differently, even in ways that confound us.
In a recent New York Times essay, Jedediah Britton-Purdy wrote about "progressive patriotism" - a political mood where we can criticize the country in the most severe way while also maintaining affection, pride, and a real feeling that we're all in this messy politics together.
Purdy argues patriotism shouldn't be abandoned but rather recovered as a spirit that sees America's flaws while recognizing the country as a chance to build real democracy. Patriotism means “not giving up on one another or on what we can do together — and can only do together."
Our country is changing before our eyes. This isn't just about our politics at home - it's changing how America shows up in the world. We've gone from a nation that projected clarity to one that projects uncertainty. Our allies see our wild swings between completely different approaches to global engagement, while those who wish us harm exploit these divisions. We need more voices willing to wrestle with messy realities instead of settling for simple narratives that feel good but explain little. And we need to be better at disagreeing agreeably.
I want to sincerely thank you for being part of this journey. Your engagement and support have been truly humbling. What began as an experiment in independent journalism has evolved into a vibrant community of thoughtful readers seeking nuanced perspectives on foreign policy and international affairs. In a media landscape often dominated by sensationalism, your interest in substantive analysis has validated my belief that there's an audience hungry for depth and context.
As an independent journalist, this platform has given me the freedom to explore topics I believe are important, free from editorial constraints. Your subscription directly supports this work, so I can increase both the frequency and depth of our coverage in the coming months.
On this holiday weekend, I am offering a 25 percent discount to anyone who upgrades their subscription before Monday. That’s less than $5 a month, about the cost of a cup of coffee!
If you are already a paid subscriber, a gift subscription is a great way to invite a like-minded friend to join our community.
A $200 founding member option is also available for hard core Cosmopolitans who feel especially supportive.
And if financial circumstances prevent you from becoming a paid subscriber, please reach out—I never want cost to be a barrier to being part of our conversation.
What's Coming
In the weeks ahead, expect more frequent posts and video content. Later this year, we'll launch a podcast, bi-monthly discussion events, and a foreign affairs book club.
In the meantime, I hope you will reach out with comments, suggestions or ideas for topics or guests. Your feedback is important to me.
Thank you for being an essential part of Cosmopolitics. Together, we're creating something special—a space for thoughtful engagement with the complex forces shaping our world.
With gratitude,
Elise
P.S. Even if upgrading isn't possible right now, you can still support our work by giving us a recommendation on Substack and sharing Cosmopolitics with friends and colleagues who share our interest in understanding the world beyond the headlines.
Nice Post Elise...
Thank you for the discount code! That was an exciting surprise. As we are waiting to see the fallout from bombing Iran, this is definitely the place I want to be.