Remember back in February 2008, when Barack Obama was first running for president and Michelle made the innocuous remark, “For the first time in my adult lifetime, I am really proud of my country”? Republicans went ballistic. What a long path we’ve trodden from “love it or leave it” to worshiping a president who gleefully trashes this country, both verbally and in deed.

It hardly needs to be stated, but the only type of patriotism that makes any sense is one which acknowledges your country’s many faults and encourages people to work to address them. Sure, most of us do not enjoy criticism, but the more mature side of ourselves is willing to listen to fair criticism and consider how to improve. Any honest rendering of our country’s past and present has to acknowledge a number of cardinal sins. How does failing to acknowledge or address them make our country better?

If you haven’t done so yet, I would urge you to listen to President Obama’s speech at the opening of the Obama Presidential Center:

His inspiring words contain the reminder that it is foolish to live in a false state of nostalgia for a perfect past that never existed. How truly remarkable the American experiment was when it began, and what high aspirations the founders had (though were unable to realize). There is plenty of work for us to do, together, to achieve a country that truly believes that all people are created equal, that all of us (should) have certain inalienable rights.

And there is plenty of good in this country, however much we fail on many fronts. There are economic opportunities here; the possibility, however unlikely, to rise out of difficult circumstances and achieve great things. Compared to a lot of other countries, the United States of America offers better opportunities for various oppressed groups, does better at protecting various freedoms, and contains an incredibly diverse population.

Just as it feels like a certain orange toddler has destroyed the wonderful YMCA song, so it can feel like there’s no reason to display an American flag. But it is dangerous to allow others to lay claim to something as valuable as our national symbol. Those of us who care deeply about making this country better—about ensuring that everyone has access to decent housing, sufficient food, quality health care and education, a functional justice system, and an actual chance of achieving the “American dream”—all of us need to make our voices heard. We are patriots. We love our country. And we’re committed to working long and hard, including after the fall of the current government, to help this country live up to its ideals.