Dear Maximilian: I hear your criticisms loud and clear. Please understand that right now the US left is in a really tough position. Rhetorically, the right wing has basically asserted complete control over the date and its meaning. If the project wants to reach people who aren't already convinced of its necessity, it needs to engage with discourses like patriotism at some point in order to be heard. While I agree that it's offensive to people outside the US (and I am often offended by expressions of "patriotism" by people who have never met someone from outside the country), I think that's the purpose of bringing up patriotism in the first place. I know it's got to look ugly in light of the US's military aggression of the past four years. It does to me too. And yet, there's also the question of the terms on which one is allow to enter into a public debate in the US. Our political culture, is in my estimation, really messed up. So yeah, you're right. But at the same time, my sense of what David and crew are up to has more to do with rhetorical strategy. I'm hopeful he'll join the conversation as well. Best, --Jonathan PS -- For more on US patriotism, check out an essay I cowrote with some friends on patriotic roadsigns. It's here: http://eserver.org/bs/59/rentschler.html