The death of patriotism will be the death of America — The United States of America is dying. We have become a nation of what Sir Walter Scott would call “dead souls” — men and women who no longer look upon their own land with fondness and whose hearts no longer burn with love for their nation. Scott was a Scottish…

True patriotism is about value and responsibility — Are you a citizen of the United States of America? Then you should love the United States of America. Period. No exceptions. Cue the objections and the protests. I can hear them all now. All the lamenting and condemnation of America’s sins (past and present). All the frustration over America’s…

My novella will release at the end of this summer — Me? A Storyteller? Yes, and by the end of this summer, I’m determined to self-publish my first (professional? serious?) story. I’m planning this story as a novella (roughly 20,000 words) and to give it away for free to help build my author email list. …

Many people certainly think so — “And … he’s a nationalist!” I was having a conversation with a relative several years ago about a certain well-known political figure. We were discussing several objectionable aspects about this person’s character, and my relative then added: “And can you believe … he’s a nationalist?” Her tone was a combination…

We must welcome disagreement in our society — We live in a time when disagreement is increasingly seen as disempowering and damaging to others. As a result, depending on the issues or the people involved, to express disagreement is often viewed as bigoted, harmful, and socially unacceptable. The phrase “depending on the issues or people involved” is crucial. …

Number Three — If you want to lead more, you better read more — I love wisdom sayings. I love reading quotes from ancient sages, successful leaders, and celebrated thinkers. And I absolutely adore the biblical Book of Proverbs. The truth is, I’m addicted to self-improvement and personal development. Over the last five years, I’ve read close to 500 books! (Admittedly, many of them…

After the sale, will Twitter and society be better or worse? — “Free speech is the bedrock of a functioning democracy,” declared Twitter’s new owner. “And Twitter is the digital town square where matters vital to the future of humanity are debated.” These are the words of Elon Musk, the richest man in the world, who now adds Twitter to his portfolio…

If we can’t agree on this, we probably won’t agree on anything — Set aside your political leanings, your party or movement affiliations, your frustration with the news media, and any cynicism you may have toward your government, and tap into your basic humanity. I’m not asking you to think as a Republican or Democrat, conservative or liberal, libertarian or socialist, or as…

If you appreciate American democracy and civilian oversight of our military, don’t forget March 15, 1783 — On this day (March 15) in 1783, General George Washington spoke to the disgruntled officers of the Continental Army who were on the verge of rebellion against the Continental Congress. The American Revolution was nearing its end. The last major battle of the war had taken place nearly two years…