Six decades ago, as Mao's Communists seized power, the question in Washington was, 'Who lost China?' Now, as his capitalist descendants stand astride the world stage and Washington worries about decline, it seems to be, 'Who lost America?'

To love country means to rise above I am because I am. It is to recognize that I am because we are.

Our commitment should be to leave our environment in better shape than when we found it, our nation's fiscal house in better order, our public infrastructure in better repair, and our people better educated and healthier. To indulge in immediate gratification and exploitation is an insult to previous generations, who sacrificed for us, and thievery from the next generation, who depend on our virtue.

As it stands now, those of us who are lucky enough to be citizens by birth don't have to do much. Very little is asked of us.

I had heard so much negative talk about our generation, that we're slackers and young fogies, that I knew wasn't true of the people I know.

America is exceptional: but because it yields the likes of Obama, not the likes of Bush.

The nativism behind the push to repeal or amend the Fourteenth is ugly and obvious.