In April, 1775, Samuel Johnson wrote, "Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel." Unfortunately, too often, too true. More crimes against humanity have been committed in the name of patriotism than almost anything else, with the possible exception of religion. (What we have been seeing in Kosovo is a combination of both.) But on a weekend like this one, I think even Dr. Johnson would agree that patriotism has its place. There are times we need to recall our national heritage, to remind us of our roots and to help us reaffirm our priorities. And for the sake of our own national self-esteem, we need to feel the sense of pride that only citizenship can bring...to share the feeling of the poet when he wrote:

Breathes there a man with soul so dead,
Who never to himself has said,
This is …