Americans who view a Christian establishment as a meaningful antidote to Islamic terror have already conceded the fight to the people they oppose since they would strip the United States of one of the most important pillars of American freedom.

While we used to feel inspired by our country, we now feel disenchanted. While we used to hope, now we doubt. And rather than listening to leaders who unite us, too often we pay heed to demagogues like Rush Limbaugh whose sole source of profit comes from division and discord.

In my own family I assumed I'd heard all the tales of heroism or of those who became part of American and global history. With deep regret I missed t...

The War of 1812 didn't gain America much, as a country. It didn't address the complaints that led the Americans to declare war in the first place. We didn't conquer Canada. But we did gain a certain amount of what can be called our "national identity" after the war. Right at the heart of this was a new patriotic (and popular) song.