What Unites Us audiobook cover - Reflections on Patriotism

What Unites Us

Reflections on Patriotism

Dan Rather with Elliot Kirschner

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Categories:
PoliticsSociety & Culture

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What Unites Us
Freedom of the Press+
Immigration and Diversity+
The Power of Books+
Artistic Heritage+
Environmental Protection+
Audacity and Ambition+
Core Message+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 7
What historical event does the author use to illustrate the negative consequences of a press that fails to ask tough questions?
  • A. The Vietnam War
  • B. The 2003 invasion of Iraq
  • C. The Watergate scandal
  • D. The Cold War
Question 2 of 7
According to the text, what historical group experienced hostility and exclusion similar to the bigotry faced by some American Muslims today?
  • A. Irish immigrants fleeing the potato famine
  • B. German refugees during World War I
  • C. Chinese immigrants working in goldmines and on railroads
  • D. Eastern European immigrants in the early 20th century
Question 3 of 7
How did Frederick Douglass's pursuit of reading and writing impact the national debate on slavery?
  • A. It allowed him to draft the Emancipation Proclamation alongside Abraham Lincoln.
  • B. It helped him organize the first nationwide slave rebellion.
  • C. His eloquence and intellect made it difficult for slaveholders to assert the 'inferiority' of enslaved people.
  • D. He used his legal knowledge to sue for his freedom in the Supreme Court.
Question 4 of 7
Why is Lin-Manuel Miranda's musical 'Hamilton' highlighted in the text?
  • A. It demonstrates America's historical reliance on European fine arts and classical music.
  • B. It proves that Americans no longer need to study politics and war as John Adams suggested.
  • C. It shows how synthesizing America's founding roots with modern musical innovations like hip-hop can revitalize history.
  • D. It was the first American musical to be successfully exported to European theaters.
Question 5 of 7
Despite environmental protection currently being a highly partisan issue, what historical fact does the author point out about the Republican Party?
  • A. They have historically relied entirely on the private sector for environmental conservation.
  • B. They have a strong legacy of environmentalism, including the founding of the EPA under President Nixon.
  • C. They opposed Theodore Roosevelt's initial efforts to create the National Park System.
  • D. They were the first to propose a global treaty on climate change in the 1980s.
Question 6 of 7
What global achievement does the author use to exemplify America's historical virtue of audacity and grand ambition?
  • A. The creation of the World Health Organization.
  • B. The US-led campaign to eradicate smallpox worldwide.
  • C. The successful mapping of the human genome.
  • D. The invention of the internet by government researchers.
Question 7 of 7
What does the author identify as a modern problem regarding America's sense of audacity and ambition?
  • A. It has been entirely replaced by a culture of pessimism and isolationism.
  • B. It is currently focused too heavily on military expansion rather than scientific discovery.
  • C. It seems to have been outsourced to the private sector rather than being nurtured by government initiatives.
  • D. It is being hindered by an overreliance on international coalitions and treaties.

What Unites Us — Full Chapter Overview

What Unites Us Summary & Overview

What Unites Us (2017) is an ode to American traditions, ideals, and solidarity. Drawing on Dan Rather’s long career as a political reporter, it appeals to all that is good and enduring in US culture and politics.

Who Should Listen to What Unites Us?

  • Americans no longer sure what their country stands for
  • International observers interested in what makes Americans tick
  • US citizens concerned by rampant polarization

About the Author: Dan Rather with Elliot Kirschner

Dan Rather is a veteran American journalist and former news anchor at CBS. He has reported on American affairs and public life for seven decades, and is the author of books including Rather Outspoken and I Remember. His co-author Elliot Kirschner is a best-selling author and Emmy-award-winning producer.

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