Ideas worth spreading

A different understanding of American patriotism

1,801,211 views | Deval Patrick • TEDxBerkshires

American democracy cannot be great until it is good, says lawyer, Harvard professor and former governor of Massachusetts Deval Patrick. A self-identified patriot, Patrick stands behind the fundamental values and civic ideals that he believes make the US unique -- and outlines how the country has strayed from those same edicts. Calling for a collective patriotism free from cynicism and fatalism, Patrick underlines the urgency to reset national aspirations in order to save democracy.

American democracy cannot be great until it is good, says lawyer, Harvard professor and former governor of Massachusetts Deval Patrick. A self-identified patriot, Patrick stands behind the fundamental values and civic ideals that he believes make the US unique -- and outlines how the country has strayed from those same edicts. Calling for a collective patriotism free from cynicism and fatalism, Patrick underlines the urgency to reset national aspirations in order to save democracy.

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About the speaker

Deval Patrick

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Deval Patrick is a poor kid from the South Side of Chicago who, with grit, determination and the help and kindness of others, has lived the American Dream.

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This talk was presented to a local audience at TEDxBerkshires, an independent event. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

Read more about TEDx.

Check out BridgeTogether, an initiative that invests in community groups working to engage disenfranchised voters.

Learn about Project351, an example of the impact of servant leadership.

Support RunForSomething. It’s up to us to make the change we want and need.