The insurrectionists who stormed the U.S. Capitol on January 6th didn’t just defile our democracy – they defiled the very notion of American patriotism. In the days leading up to the attack, right-wing extremists called on “fellow patriots” to gather in Washington. When thousands of rioters descended on the National Mall, they brandished American flags – and moments later, they used those same flagpoles to break through windows and assault Capitol Police.
The plot to overthrow American democracy failed. But the twisted ideology that sparked violence that day lives on through a false patriotism that has infected our politics. Today, thousands of Americans – including some far-right politicians – believe that in the United States of America, being a patriot means tearing down democracy. According to the nonpartisan Public Religion Research Institute, one in five Americans believe that “true American patriots may have to resort to violence in order to save our country.”
This outlook has powered a rise in domestic terrorism that began before January 6th – and has only grown since then. Right-wing radicals, white nationalists, and racist paramilitary groups have grown emboldened, roused by a false and dangerous mythology that they’re doing their civic duty by undermining democracy. Their ideology and their actions imperil our country, and we have a responsibility to respond. But we cannot fight fire with fire. In order to prevent extremism from further infecting our politics, the American people must rally behind a tradition of true American patriotism – centered not on violence and hate but on service and love.
This issue isn’t just political to me; it’s personal. I come from a family of real patriots: ministers, teachers, and engineers who built this nation with their hands. I led patriots in combat when I served in Afghanistan. I also led patriots in the private sector when I ran a business in Baltimore focused on helping underserved students earn college degrees. I lead patriots every day as Governor – working alongside dedicated public servants committed to building a better Maryland where no one is left behind. And as Governor, I stand on the shoulders of civil rights patriots who put their lives on the line to help our nation live up to its full promise of equal opportunity, equal justice, and equal rights for all.
True patriots hail from many different backgrounds, but they all share a common belief that our nation is great – and if we put in the work, it will be even greater. That’s what patriotism is about—serving others and giving back to the country we love. We must preach this gospel of true patriotism – in every city, every town, and every community.
In Maryland, my administration has gotten to work doing exactly that. As one of my first acts as Governor, I created a new Department of Service and Civic Innovation to consolidate and elevate the offices of the Maryland government that support service. I am now working with the Maryland General Assembly to create a first-in-the-nation Service Year Option to give young people the opportunity to give back to their communities, be paid for their work, and learn the skills that will prepare them for the future. Service will help bridge our young people to their next stage in life, regardless of whether they plan to earn a college degree, start a business, enter public service, pursue an apprenticeship, or chase their dreams in any other way.
Service helps open the door to new career opportunities. Service helps provide our young people with the training they need to thrive. Service will help us directly address real problems in our country by mobilizing a new generation of patriots to roll up their sleeves and get involved in their communities. And service can help us confront the epidemic of hate we see rising across America. People who serve together stick together, and by investing in service, we can build a new network of American patriots from the ground up. My service year legislation will help us pursue each of these goals in Maryland.
To overcome the politics of violence, we need to mend what’s broken within our shared American identity. I believe we can respond to this threat strategically, but getting there will require all Marylanders and all Americans to join together in a common cause and uplift one another. Committed individuals must raise their hands to get involved in their communities – and public servants must break down barriers that stand between citizens and service.
We can and must work together on this issue. Extremists want to exploit the divisions in our country to drive us further apart. If we remain divided, we cannot win. But if we stand united, we cannot lose. Now is the time to honor that high ideal inscribed in the Great Seal of the United States: “e pluribus, unum” – out of many, one. If we do that, I know we can stem the tide of political violence and reclaim the word “patriotism” from those who s
