The uplifting pageantry of the Democratic National Convention is over, leaving a national hangover of possibility. Judging from mainstream media headlines, a sense of relief is spreading, the page is turning — and not just for Democrats.

Ever since a certain indulged heir rode down his golden escalator, the nation’s been in a funk. Encouraged to hate our neighbors, a good chunk of the country did it. Coaxed to see bizarre conspiracies, many of us saw them. Pumped up on political violence, too many of us went there.

It’s been a nearly 10-year slog, an emotionally draining chapter in American history that made many wonder, in earnest, whether our democracy could survive. Maybe Ben Franklin’s wry quip about a “Republic, if you can keep it,’ was more prescience than cynicism.

Last week’s Democratic National Committee rejoinder was that we will not only keep our republic, we’ll eventually fulfill its promise.

Democrats are reclaiming ‘“freedom’” and the American flag

As both Harris and Walz stressed their commitment to all Americans regardless of how they vote, Kamala Cowboys, country music, and football players on center stage proved that the Harris comms team knows the importance of iconography.

Democrats are embracing unabashed flag-waving patriotism once again, after what felt like a forced hiatus. Too many images of Trump weirdly caressing the flag were a turn-off, a revered American symbol cheapened into a prop. Just as Christians refusing to feed the poor screams hypocrisy, waving the flag after Trump’s January 6 mob beat police officers with it just felt wrong.

Not anymore. Harris-Walz are reclaiming flags and “freedom” as the language of patriotism, displayed in giant block letters behind many speakers who talked about how Republicans have bastardized both.

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