Celebrate Independence Day by Embracing Patriotism with Samuel Adams

Despite being 4th of July, reverence for the brilliance of America’s Founding Fathers is diminishing due to efforts by the left to minimize them, leading to a decline in traditional patriotic values over time.

According to a 2023 Wall Street Journal/NORC survey, only 38% of Americans consider patriotism to be “very important,” a significant drop from 70% in 1998.

By various measures, traditional American values are becoming less significant to our fellow citizens as time goes on.

This can be observed in the declining sense of national pride and the diminishing respect for our history, as well as lower attendance in places of worship, reduced military recruitment, and a declining birth rate.

Even among individuals who still hold strong patriotic sentiments, many choose to keep them hidden or silenced due to self-censorship. 

In the era of cancel culture, a lot of Americans don’t want to take risks with friendships, relationships, or careers by expressing views that others might find “offensive” — even views that would have been considered innocuously patriotic just a few years ago.

If our Founding Fathers were here today, they would likely advise us to break our silence and boldly uphold traditional values. 

One man, in particular.

Having extensively researched the lives of the Founding Fathers to write a history of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, it is evident to me that the attempts by the left to cancel Independence Day, the flag, and the patriots who founded America are not in the best interest of the nation.

One of these Founders, Samuel Adams, stands out as a beacon for our time, a patriot who Thomas Jefferson hailed as “truly the Man of the Revolution.”

Despite living in a time when the “cancel culture” was far more oppressive and dangerous, Adams chose not to be silenced — and was one of the earliest champions of individual liberties that he believed were God-given and worth defending at any cost. 

Leading up to 1776, Adams was a vocal opponent of the tyranny of the Crown, using his writing and various pseudonyms to galvanize the colonists and present a united front against the British authorities.

He even established the Sons of Liberty, an underground resistance group that caused headaches for the Crown with their anti-British activities.

The lesson here is that one individual can truly make a difference.

One person can stand up against tyranny and oppression.

One individual can spread a message.

This Independence Day, do not remain silent if you feel compelled to speak out in defense of patriotism, military service, faith, and community.

Peacefully and lawfully stand up for your beliefs and the future rights of future generations.

Learn from the example set by Samuel Adams: Speak up and inspire others to do the same.

Douglas MacKinnon is a former White House and Pentagon official and author of “The 56: Liberty lessons from those who risked all to sign the Declaration of Independence.”