It is not unusual for a devout Republican to be intensely interested in history. It is probably my lifelong interest in history – especially American History – that has caused me to be so grateful for the sacrifices that have allowed me to live in such a singularly wonderful country.1
Last winter, I wrote a series for the 250th Celebration of Independence for the Saluda County Historical Society, of which I am a member. That project turned out to be one of the most interesting and rewarding of my life. It gave me new insights into the overall Revolution, but also the specific struggles that were unique to the South Carolina backcountry in general, and the footprint of Saluda County in particular.
The image below links to the series. I hope you will read it and share it with others who live in, or have lived in, Saluda County. It may be the only account ever written about the time before and during the Revolution exclusively in the footprint of our home county.
Truth be told, it is a tragic story, but as we all now know, it had a worthwhile result.
As you read, remember this:
Almost every major study shows that Republicans are the most proud people in this country, and, as President Trump says, “By a lot!”
Consider the latest from Gallup(June 2025): Gallup has tracked “how proud are you to be an American” since 2001, so it’s the gold standard for trend data: news.gallup
- 92% of Republicans said they were extremely or very proud to be American — up from 85% the prior year, and consistently above 90% for most of the last 24 years.
- 36% of Democrats said the same — down sharply from 62% a year earlier, the lowest reading for Democrats in the quarter-century Gallup has asked.
- 53% of independents — a record low for that group.
Overall, 58% of U.S. adults — a record low, driven almost entirely by declines among Democrats and independents.
The Republican–Democrat gap of 56 percentage points is the widest since Gallup began measuring in 2001. This large gap is caused by two things: Grateful Republicans and ungrateful Democrats.
Analysts note Republican pride has stayed remarkably steady regardless of which party holds the White House, while Democratic pride swings with the presidency.
On those few occasions when our party disappoints us, remember its heart. And remember our history.
