July 8-9, 2023: Patriotism in 2023: Talking Of Thee I Sing

[It’s beentwo and a half years since my book onthe contested history of American patriotism was published, and let’s just say itdoesn’t feel less relevant at the moment. So for this year’s July 4thseries, I wanted to highlight a handful of places andways I’ve been thinking about the book and patriotism here in 2023.Leading up to this special request for any and all further such opportunitiesto share the project!]

I hopethis week’s series has illustrated the continuing, crucial relevance of Of Thee I Sing and the contested historyof American patriotism. I’m always a big fan of talking about my projects andideas, but in this case I genuinely believe that our future depends on theseconversations, and that I have a small but real role to play in helping us havethem. I’ll keep looking for such opportunities of course, but I’d really loveto hear from you all withideas as well, and I am quite literally open to everything: from the morefamiliar (libraries, museums, historic sites) and the educational(classes/students/institutions of all kinds) to what might seem like a longershot but I promise is of interest as well (book/discussion groups of all types,for example). Got an idea for a place/community/conversation where we couldtalk about Of Thee I Sing and thecontested history and contemporary relevance of American patriotism? You know what to do!

Summertimeseries starts Monday,

Ben

PS. Whatdo you think? Ideas for places/ways I could share Of Thee I Sing?