Memorial Day is the first of the summer’s patriotic holidays. That makes it a good time to think about patriotism and what love of country requires of us today.

As we honor the people who have died while serving in the U.S. military, let’s also consider how we can honor the American promise for which they sacrificed.

This year, I’ve been thinking about two people who taught me different ways of looking at and loving our country.

One is Norman Lear, the legendary television producer, energetic activist and founder of my organization, People For the American Way. Lear dropped out of college after the attack on Pearl Harbor to join the Army Air Force, and flew more than 50 missions on a bomber crew to liberate Europe from fascism. He was a lifelong patriot and a lover of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.

Lear was, up to his final breath, a dogged optimist that people working together could move us closer to the ideals in those documents, even if he was, like many of us, discouraged at times when our progress was threatened.

On his 100th birthday, he wrote, “I am a flag-waving believer in truth, justice and the American way, and I don’t understand how so many people who call themselves patriots can support efforts to undermine our democracy and our Constitution.”

I second that emotion.

The second person I’m thinking about is James........

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