American Virtues

Charles Schulz's 1970 letter to a schoolchild describes the fake
patriotism of today's MAGA movement

Who knew that the creator of Charlie Brown and Snoopy was also a
clairvoyant for democracy's future?

In 1970, fifth-grader Joel Lipton sent a fan letter to Peanuts creator
Charles Schulz, asking him what makes a good citizen. Schulz's
response couldn't be more relevant today. Schulz wrote, "Sometimes it
is the very people who cry out the loudest in favor of getting back to
what they call 'American Virtues' who lack this faith in our country."

Fast forward fifty years, and it feels like Schulz had a crystal ball
sitting next to his typewriter in his Sebastopol, California studio.
Schulz's letter emphasized the importance of following one's
conscience and protecting "our smallest minorities"--ideas that are
lost on Trump cultists who wave upside down flags while tearing down
the fabric of democracy.

The full text of the letter reads:

    Dear Joel: I think it is more difficult these days to define what
makes a good citizen then it has ever been before. Certainly all any
of us can do is follow our own conscience and retain faith in our
democracy. Sometimes it is the very people who cry out the loudest in
favor of getting back to what they call "American Virtues" who lack
this faith in our country. I believe that our greatest strength lies
always in the protection of our smallest minorities.

    Sincerely yours,

    Charles M. Schulz


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