The New Yorker: Patriotism Is 'Problematic' - Slay News
The New Yorker is facing backlash after publishing a lengthy essay attempting to explain why patriotism has fallen out of favor among many on the political Left while simultaneously arguing that progressives should reclaim patriotic language on their own terms.
The article presents declining levels of national pride as a result of growing awareness of America’s historical shortcomings, including slavery, racial discrimination, and the treatment of Native Americans.
The liberal outlet argues that traditional patriotism asks Americans to overlook those injustices and suggests a new definition of patriotism is needed.
But in doing so, the essay highlights a growing divide between Americans who celebrate the nation’s founding principles and those who increasingly view the country through the lens of grievance politics and historical guilt.
- Advertisement -The Left’s War On Patriotism
The New Yorker points to polling showing that fewer Americans today describe themselves as “extremely proud” to be American and notes that some Americans have even considered moving abroad in recent years.
The publication links part of that trend to President Donald Trump’s political rise and argues that progressive activism has made patriotism less appealing on the Left.
The essay openly acknowledges that what many Americans refer to as “wokeness” has contributed to declining admiration for the United States among progressives.
- Advertisement -Rather than viewing America primarily through the lens of its achievements, the article focuses heavily on the nation’s historical failures and argues that those failures should shape modern conceptions of patriotism.
That argument reflects a broader trend that has dominated progressive politics for years — one that elevates America’s flaws while often minimizing its extraordinary accomplishments.
Revisionist History and Selective Outrage
The article repeatedly emphasizes slavery, segregation, and other historical injustices while presenting them as central to understanding America today.
- Advertisement -What receives far less attention is the broader historical context that complicates the simplistic oppressor-versus-oppressed narrative that has become popular among many progressive activists.
America’s history, like the history of every civilization, contains both triumphs and failures.
Yet critics of progressive revisionism argue that institutions such as The New Yorker routinely focus on selected episodes that support modern political narratives while downplaying facts that challenge them.
The result is a version of history that often serves contemporary ideological goals more than historical understanding.
January 6 And The Double Standard Problem
The New Yorker also revisits January 6, arguing that those who entered the Capitol should not be viewed as patriots.
At the same time, many conservatives have pointed to the vastly different treatment given to the destructive leftist riots that swept numerous American cities during 2020.
- Advertisement -Those riots resulted in billions of dollars in property damage, widespread violence, and multiple deaths, yet were frequently described by media outlets and progressive activists as largely justified protests.
That contrast has become emblematic of a broader credibility problem facing legacy media organizations.
Who Gets to Define Patriotism?
At its core, the debate is not really about history. It is about who gets to define what it means to be American.
- Advertisement -For generations, patriotism has generally meant love of country, respect for the Constitution, appreciation for America’s founding principles, and gratitude for the freedoms that distinguish the United States from much of the world.
Many progressives now seek to redefine patriotism around acknowledgment of historical grievances and social justice activism.
The New Yorker essay reflects that effort.
But for millions of Americans, patriotism remains something much simpler: pride in a nation that, despite its imperfections, has done more to advance liberty, prosperity, and human opportunity than any country in history.
That fundamental disagreement continues to drive one of the most important cultural battles in America today.