Editorial: Patriot games

Patriotism has become another political test.

These days, people are judged not by how they treat their neighbors or whether they respect the law, but by the signs they display, the candidates they support and the way they express dissent.

That was at the heart of the fierce debate over the “86 47” sign Douglas Cooper displayed at his Mattituck farm ahead of the Fourth of July.

Some people agreed with the call to remove President Trump from office. Others had a more sinister interpretation.
Given the vitriol directed at the 47th president — and the attempts on his life during the 2024 campaign — the Secret Service traveled to the East End to question Mr. Cooper about the display. Their arrival in our generally peaceful corner of Long Island quickly turned a local story into a widespread argument.

Political speech is now too often sorted into one of two categories: patriotic or dangerous. There is not much room left in between.

Americans have always criticized their leaders, sometimes harshly. That is protected by the Constitution. Supporting a president is no less legitimate — or patriotic. The trouble starts when disagreement becomes an excuse to assume the worst.
Words and symbols matter. Anyone making a political statement should expect others to read it differently.

But context and intent matter, too.

Social media has made both harder to see. A sign along Breakwater Road can be shared with hundreds of thousands of people in a matter of days, and the argument over what it means can take on a life of its own.

The North Fork is home to Republicans, Democrats, independents and plenty of people who would rather avoid politics altogether. They serve together on school boards, volunteer at the firehouse, coach the same youth teams and stand shoulder to shoulder during the playing of the national anthem.

Patriotism is not proved by a message in someone’s yard or by a vote for one candidate over another. It is reflected in the respect we show one another — especially when we disagree.

That may be harder these days.

It is also more important than ever.