Patriotism is more than celebrating our history—it is having the courage to preserve it.

Are you jealous of those who have more than you? Do millionaires intimidate you? Do billionaires offend you? Do you think life would be better without these people? Do you think it is fair that some people have so much more money than others? Does the source of their wealth make a difference to you?

As President Ronald Reagan once warned, “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.” When politics becomes driven by hatred rather than responsibility, that warning becomes even more relevant.

For too long, the United States drifted between conflict without victory and diplomacy without leverage. Ending the cycle of endless wars while restoring deterrence requires political will—the willingness to do what is difficult rather than what is convenient.