The great Ken Burns has often said, “There is no them; there’s only us.” It’s high time we Americans, yes, all of us, take a moment to remember that. The American Flag represents all of us, but there’s a narrative that the Flag is just revered by Republicans and not by Democrats. Not so. We Democrats love it too, but perhaps for different reasons.
While it IS true that Republicans tend to display the Flag more than Democrats physically (73% to 55% according to one Pew Research Center study), Democrats often express their reverence through the values it represents — liberty, justice, and inclusive democracy.
1. The Flag as a Symbol of Civic Patriotism
Democrats often embrace what political theorist Jürgen Habermas calls “constitutional patriotism” — a love of country rooted not in ethnicity or nationalism, but in shared democratic principles like freedom, equality, and the rule of law. Brookings scholar William Galston defends this idea of “reasonable patriotism,” which aligns closely with the Democratic ideal.
“You are or become an American… because you affirm, and are prepared to defend, the community’s basic principles and institutions.” — William Galston, Brookings
This view sees the Flag not just as a national symbol, but as a banner of democratic values — a unifying emblem for people of all backgrounds.
2. Freedom as a Core Democratic Value
Democrats consistently champion freedom of speech, help for those in need, voting rights, and civil liberties — all of which are deeply tied to the ideals the American Flag represents. Vice President Kamala Harris, for example, has framed the Democratic platform as a defense of freedom in its broadest sense.
“Freedom is fundamental to who we are as Americans. And Democrats are fighting to protect it — for everyone.” — Brookings, on Harris’s message
3. Democrats Fight for the Flag’s Promises
While some may equate flag-waving with patriotism, and I don’t argue that it isn’t, Democrats often express their love of country by working to fulfill the promises the Flag makes — liberty and justice for all. This includes:
- Expanding voting access
- Defending civil rights
- Supporting immigrants and marginalized communities
- Upholding democratic institutions
This is a patriotism of action, not just symbolism.
Countering the Myth
So while Republicans may more often display the Flag, Democrats arguably embody its meaning just as deeply — if not more — through their commitment to freedom, democracy, and equality. Above all, Democrats love and revere our Constitution, the document we as a nation have agreed to live by and defend. The Constitution of, for, and by its people, is what the American Flag represents-for ALL of us.
But now to get back to the spirit of Ken Burns’s statement, does it matter what my reason is versus yours for loving the Flag? No. What matters is that Democrats AND Republicans love our country and the Flag that represents our country. Maybe we need to take a breather from being at each other’s throats this Independence Day and come together, if only for a short while, to celebrate this great nation and the promise it has for all who love her.