As the United States prepares to celebrate her 249th birthday, a growing number of Americans say they’ve noticed a marked decline in patriotism.

More specifically, 44% of respondents in an Economist/YouGov survey published this week said they believe the U.S. is becoming less patriotic. In comparison, a much smaller 14% said they think the nation is becoming more so.

Jesse Parks, a former U.S. Army Sergeant who served in Afghanistan, has noticed this shift in attitude.

“[Seeing] flags being burnt and seeing protests being more frequent,” Parks told the Daily Wire, “it tears down the country.”

Born into a military family, Parks said he was inspired to follow in the footsteps of those who came before him.

“All my uncles, dad, older brother, served. Everybody,” he said.

Parks initially applied to serve in the United States Marine Corps, but his application was rejected. Undeterred, he enlisted later in the United States Army, where he was accepted and rose through the ranks.

When asked why he enlisted, Parks said, “I think you join the military to fight for your country. It opens up a lot of doors, but in the end, you fight.”

He was deployed to Afghanistan in December 2010, where he said his unit’s primary mission was to train and advise the Afghan National Army Basic Training Command Teams, alongside the British and French Armies. He later became an infantry fire team leader.

Parks said that patriotism was a major factor in his decision to join the armed forces. He described it as “a love of your country put into action, whether that’s military, that’s political, or that’s civil service.”

But what is “patriotism” anyway?

“Patriotism” is often defined as a “love for or devotion to one’s country.”

Yet, a growing number of Americans say they don’t see a shared sense of admiration for the country they call home. Lightning rod political issues ranging from abortion to illegal immigration, along with a major political realignment that has seen the Democratic Party lurch harder to the left and the Republican Party lurch harder to the right, have revealed a simmering disunity.

“[Patriotism is] a big part of what allows us to progress,” Parks said. “It is what kind of helps us progress as a society. We don’t all have to have the same views, but as long as we have patriotism, which is different than nationalism, as long as it’s there, it allows us to progress.”

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While Parks has an expressed love of country, his may not be a shared passion: only 67% of people claim to be extremely or very proud to be American, down from 91% in 2004, according to a 2024 Gallup survey.

A separate Marist poll likewise found a majority of Americans have noticed this shift, with 52% of respondents stating that the country seems less patriotic than it was just a few years ago.

The disunity and decline may feel all the more evident with the recent riots and attacks on first responders.

“[T]here has been a perversion of patriotism,” Parks told the Daily Wire.

“Groups like Antifa seem like they don’t care about this country and want to tear it down,” he said. “January 6 was similar; it was a movement to dismantle the country. It is seen on both sides.” 

Rather than being complicit in this division, Parks said, groups such as Antifa should “consider the opportunity they have in this time in history to affect the country’s direction, and to act accordingly in a constructive manner.”

Despite all of this, the Army veteran sees hope for the future.

“There is a lot of talk about division in the country at the moment, but I don’t think that is anything new,” Parks said. “I hope people will get involved over the issues they think are important.”

Participation “will increase their sense of pride and reignite a love for their country.”

* * *

Simon Olech is a reporter studying journalism at the National Journalism Center in Washington, D.C.

The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

Let’s be real: most of us aren’t crossing the Delaware this 4th of July. We’re crossing the backyard in flip-flops to open the cooler. And that’s fine. That’s American, even. But while we’re manning the grill and dodging bottle rockets, we’d do well to remember: this day isn’t just about fireworks and flag-themed cupcakes. It’s about something far rarer — and far more worth preserving.

Because America didn’t just happen. It was made — and paid for.

Two hundred and forty-nine years ago, a bunch of men in powdered wigs looked at the most powerful empire on Earth and said, “Nah—we’re going to try something different. Hold my beer.” They didn’t tweet about tyranny. They fought it. They signed their names on a document that would’ve earned them a hangman’s rope had things gone south. And then they backed it up — starving, freezing, bleeding, and winning, so that one day you and I could argue over gas prices and post pics on Instagram.

They weren’t fighting for tax credits or better trade deals. They were fighting for the radical belief that our rights come from God, not government. And they risked everything for it.

We, by comparison, are just risking the brisket.

But maybe that’s the point. You don’t have to be Washington at Valley Forge to honor the Spirit of ’76. You just have to be intentional. You just have to remember.

Because the truth is, most Americans today couldn’t name five Founders. Some think the Revolutionary War was a Marvel spinoff. And every summer, like clockwork, the usual suspects try to reduce the Founding to a footnote in oppression — something to apologize for, not admire.

But the American Founding wasn’t a mistake. It was a miracle. Were the Founders flawed men? Sure. We all are. But the system they built — this Constitutional Republic grounded in natural rights and self-government — is still the greatest experiment in liberty the world has ever seen.

And it’s worth celebrating.

So, this Independence Day, take a minute — take five — to appreciate not just the fireworks, but the fire that lit the Revolution.

Maybe take some time to think about Jack Jouett. You’ve probably never heard his name. But when British troops were closing in on Thomas Jefferson and the Virginia Legislature, Jouett rode through the night, 40 miles on rough terrain, branches slashing his face, to warn them.

He didn’t do it for fame. He didn’t expect a reward. He was just a regular guy who refused to let tyranny win on his watch.

So too were the legions of cold, hungry, bleeding men in Washington’s army who crossed the icy Delaware River on Christmas night, 1776. They marched barefoot through the snow to launch a surprise attack on a Hessian outpost in Trenton. Some died before the battle even began. But the rest fought, and they won. And with that win, the Revolution roared back to life.

These weren’t abstract ideals on parchment. These were men, enduring literal hell so that future generations could taste Heaven’s gift: liberty.

And that gift has only survived this long because, in every generation, regular people stepped up to keep it alive.

That includes you.

John Adams said, “Posterity! You will never know how much it cost the present generation to preserve your freedom. I hope you will make good use of it.”

So, if you want to make good use of it, here’s your checklist for a meaningful 4th of July:

Read the Declaration of Independence with your kids. Yes, even if they roll their eyes. Especially if they roll their eyes. Fly the flag. Not because it looks good on your porch, but because you know what it cost. Ask your kids what freedom means to them. Not a lecture — a conversation. They’re starving for meaning. Feed them something real. Turn off TikTok. Read a chapter of the Federalist Papers. Or watch The Patriot instead of a reality show about people with fake names and real dysfunction. Say grace. And thank God you live in a country where you can.

And if you’re Gen Z, no one expects you to recite the Constitution from memory. But maybe — just maybe — start asking questions. Read a book. Volunteer. Serve your neighbor. Build something with your hands. Log some service hours instead of screentime.

Because guess what? Next year is America’s 250th birthday. That’s not just a milestone. It’s a moment. A year from now, when the fireworks explode and the flags wave, don’t be the one just snapping selfies. Be the one who knows why it matters. Let this year be your warm-up lap. Spend the next 12 months loading the intellectual cannons. Read the Founding documents. Relearn the history. Equip yourself with truth.

Because if America is going to survive another 250 years, it won’t be because we got more “progressive.” It won’t be because of people like Barack Obama, who infamously said “I believe in American exceptionalism, just as I suspect that the Brits believe in British exceptionalism and the Greeks believe in Greek exceptionalism.”

No, if America is to survive, it will be thanks to people who fought to conserve who we are: a nation under God. A people forged in sacrifice. A Republic—if we can keep it.

You can’t defend a country you refuse to define. And you certainly can’t celebrate one you won’t even elevate.

So, fire up the Weber. Salute the flag. Tell your kids the truth. Thank the ones who served. And say a prayer for the country that lets you do all five without asking permission.

We don’t need more guilt. We need more gratitude.

We don’t need perfect people. We need present patriots.

And we don’t need another political lecture. We need more parents, more truth, more God, more America.

Now, hold my beer. The brisket is burning.

Gates Garcia is the host of the YouTube show and podcast We The People. Follow him on IG and X @GatesGarciaFL

The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.