This series of essays address the ongoing debate centered on how patriotism is defined and who is a patriot. True patriotism is much broader than how it has been traditionally described in American society. There is a spirit of opposition within the nation's history that has never been credited for being the primary source of developing American democracy. "e;On Resistance"e; makes the case that activist groups such as the Black Panther Party for Self Defense, (BPP) have set the tone by making our nation a more just and open society. I offer a new definition for patriotism that highlights the voice of opposition and activism. The nation's "e;Radical Democratic Tradition"e; has been at the forefront of articulating the true meaning of democracy in our society. Readers of this book will see how this "e;Radical"e; tradition became the strength behind shifting our nation beyond the preservation of the basic "e;property rights"e; of our citizens to an emphasis in upholding our citizen's basic civil rights.