An opinion article published on Substack argues that patriotism is more than a cultural value in the United States—it is a matter of national security. The author contends that America's national identity has been deliberately weakened over recent decades and calls for renewed pride in the country's history, institutions and founding principles.
INR Report: Based on reporting by Clandestine for Substack HERE.
Patriotism Matters
Writing on America's Independence Day, the author argues that patriotism serves a strategic purpose beyond national celebration.
According to the article, President Donald Trump and his administration have deliberately sought to restore American pride after what the author describes as decades of cultural and psychological decline. The opinion piece argues that national identity, civic pride and confidence in American institutions are essential elements of national resilience.
Cultural Decline
The article claims that America's media, education system and political institutions have contributed to eroding confidence in the country's history, culture and traditions.
The author argues this has weakened public confidence and national unity, making society more vulnerable to political division and external influence. These views are presented as the author's opinion rather than established fact.
National Security
A central theme of the article is that patriotism itself forms part of America's national security.
The author contends that public willingness to defend democratic institutions depends upon a strong sense of national identity and shared purpose. According to the article, restoring civic pride is therefore viewed as strengthening the country's long-term security and resilience.
Call To Action
The article concludes by encouraging Americans to openly celebrate their country and preserve their national identity.
The author argues that maintaining patriotism and civic pride is essential to protecting America's future and resisting political movements that seek to fundamentally reshape the nation.
New Zealand Context
The article raises an interesting question from a New Zealand perspective: how does New Zealand express its own sense of nationhood?
Unlike the United States, New Zealand has never developed a single national day dedicated to celebrating the country's constitutional evolution and national identity. Waitangi Day commemorates the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840 and remains one of New Zealand's most significant public holidays. However, it has increasingly become a focus for discussion and debate about the Treaty relationship, constitutional issues and Māori–Crown relations rather than a universally celebrated national day.
Less well known is 3 May 1841, when Queen Victoria's Royal Charter formally separated New Zealand from the Colony of New South Wales and established New Zealand as its own Crown Colony with a Governor and Executive Council. While this did not make New Zealand an independent nation, it marked the beginning of New Zealand's separate constitutional government and laid the foundations for the country's later constitutional development.
New Zealand's journey toward full legislative independence continued over many decades, including the adoption of the Statute of Westminster in 1947 and the Constitution Act 1986, which clarified New Zealand's constitutional arrangements while retaining the Crown as Head of State.
Unlike the United States, where patriotism is often closely associated with the Constitution, military service and national independence, New Zealand has generally expressed national identity through shared civic values, remembrance of military service, sporting achievement, local communities and democratic institutions.
The comparison raises a broader question: should New Zealand place greater emphasis on celebrating the constitutional milestones that shaped its nationhood and foster a stronger shared understanding of the country's history?
Source
Clandestine, Substack, 5 July 2026.