Fine line between patriotism, indoctrination

In 1971, The New York Times began publishing a series of articles based on the Pentagon Papers – a top-secret study of the U.S. involvement in Southeast Asia that ranged from World War II until May 1968. Included in these papers was proof of U.S. miscalculation and deception of the American people. The government tried to stop the Times from publishing, but, thanks to legal victories, the story came out.
It's easy right now to get into the mentality that America is always right because that's what we want to believe – what we need to believe to justify ourselves to the world. But just because it's easier to think that way doesn't mean we always should.