From Military Service to Flag Pins, What Makes a Patriot?
The subject of a given presidential candidate’s patriotism is one that arises each presidential election, but patriotism is far from a new issue. For some, having a combat record may make one candidate more patriotic than one who lacks military service, while for another, the willingness to fly Old Glory from the front porch is indicator enough of an enduring love of country. Still, when the microphones and cameras stop recording, and when all the political stumping comes to a close, how is patriotism truly measured? Well, per Dr. Larry Burriss, a First Amendment scholar and journalism professor at Middle Tennessee State University, election-time questions about patriotism, in many respects, may be traced back to July 14, 1798, the date when Congress passed the Sedition Act. The Sedition Act: Roots in Civil War-Era Journalism “The Sedition Act made it a crime to publish false, malicious and scandalous news stories about the government,” Burriss said in a telephone interview. “Under the
