ONLINE EVENT - Ben Railton discusses perspectives on patriotism and his book Of Thee I Sing

The Toadstool Bookshop is pleased to welcome back author Ben Railton to present and discuss his newest title, Of Thee I Sing.

When we talk about patriotism in America, we tend to mean one form: the version captured in shared celebrations like the national anthem and the Pledge of Allegiance. But as Ben Railton argues, that celebratory patriotism is just one of four distinct forms: celebratory, the communal expression of an idealized America; mythic, the creation of national myths that exclude certain communities; active, acts of service and sacrifice for the nation; and critical, arguments for how the nation has fallen short of its ideals that seek to move us toward that more perfect union. In Of Thee I Sing, Railton defines those four forms of American patriotism, using the four verses of "America the Beautiful" as examples of each type, and traces them across our histories. Only by engaging with the multiple forms of American patriotism, past and present, can we begin to move forward toward a more perfect union that we all can celebrate. Railton will be discussing and highlighting histories and stories from the book, and participants are encouraged to ask questions and discuss their own perspectives.

Ben Railton is Professor of English and American Studies at Fitchburg State University. He's the author of five other books in addition to Of Thee I Sing, writes the daily AmericanStudies blog, and contributes the monthly “Considering History” column to the Saturday Evening Post. 

To attend this event, click the Zoom logo below on March 27th at 2pm.