Redefining patriotism

St. Paul, Minn. — Todd Gitlin was in the midst of writing a very different book a few years ago when terrorists attacked the World Trade Towers and the Pentagon on September 11th, 2001. Everything changed. Suddenly what were ruminations about how left-leaning intellectuals had influenced his own thinking seemed dated and irrelevant.

He writes in his new book, "to tell the truth, September 11th jammed my mental circuits and I spent much of the ensuing year trying to get them unjammed."

What emerged -- when he was finally ready to write again -- was the heart of his new book, "The Intellectuals and the Flag" and his thoughts about patriotism are sure to resonate with readers. Like this: "patriotism decrees that we are not free. We are obliged. Patriotism is sticky."

Guests

• Todd Gitlin: Todd Gitlin is a professor of journalism and sociology at Columbia. His other books include: "The Sixties: Years of Hope" and "Letters to a Young Activist."

Resources

• About Todd Gitlin