My elementary school didn't have a library. Instead, each classroom had long shelves below the windowsills stacked with books deemed useful and appropriate for that grade level.

This was in the days before we entrusted our children to schools that feel it is essential they eat from the Tree of Knowledge's adult menu.

The mission of these books was to open us to the wonders of the world and supplement our classroom lessons, while instilling in us a love of the written word.

I remember the day my teacher pulled from the shelf a copy of "Johnny Tremain," the fictional story of a young apprentice silversmith who overcame a grave physical disfigurement to aid Paul Revere in his midnight ride.

"Read this," she said, plopping the book on my desk. "I think you'll like it." Actually, I loved it. And when I finished that first book I began moving down the shelf, pulling one after another, mostly simple biographies, and nearly all with the same theme. My preference was for stories about Americans who did great things.

George Washington and George Washington Carver, Abraham Lincoln, Jim Thorpe – All-American, Daniel Boone, Benjamin Franklin, Betsy Ross, Gen. Francis Marion, the Swamp Fox. And so many others about presidents and pioneers and explorers. All framing their subjects in glowing heroism.

Our changing definition of 'patriot'

I learned later, of course, that like all men, many of my schoolboy idols had clay feet. I discovered things about their lives that dimmed their luster. But, fortunately, that came too late to lessen the impact they had on my development.

I was already a Yankee Doodle Dandy, convinced of America's exceptionalism and the goodness of its people. In short, a patriot.

I have remained one through the Vietnam War, which consumed so many of my generation; through Watergate, which exposed our government's natural tendency toward corruption; through political assassinations; through economic crises, the rise of poisonous partisanship, racial strife and, even now, the bastardization of the word "patriot" by the MAGA crowd.

I've also traveled extensively. And despite my frequent disappointments in my country, I remain as convinced now as I was as a boy immersed in the bravery of Johnny Tremain that America is and always has been the greatest country in history.

It's OK to hate what America is doing. It's not OK to hate America itself.

I wonder if that would be true had I been schooled in today's classrooms, where every lesson about America's achievements must be offset by one about its failings?

The education system's obsession with America's warts is not conducive to nurturing patriots.

That said, I must add that while I pledge allegiance to the flag, I don't think being a patriot demands blind allegiance to the government. Vigorous dissent is vital to a democracy. Patriots are obliged to call out their country when they believe it is not living up to its ideals. I also don't believe patriotism is a partisan virtue. Republicans have no greater claim to the label than do Democrats.

It's OK to hate the things America is doing and try to push it in a different direction. But it's not acceptable to hate America itself and work to tear it down.

Sen. Gary Peters and I are being honored by the Patriot Week Foundation with Patriot of the Year Awards at its 13th Annual Patrick Henry Dinner.

I deeply appreciate the acknowledgement. But a more deserving recipient would be the teacher who long ago pushed "Johnny Tremain" under my nose and said, "Read this."

Nolan Finley is the editorial page editor for the Detroit News, where this column originally appeared. Reach him at nfinley@detroitnews.com or follow him on X: @NolanFinleyDN

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