This national feeling is good, but it won't count for much, and it won't last unless

it's grounded in thoughtfulness and knowledge. An informed patriotism is what we want.

And are we doing a good enough job teaching our children what America is and what she represents in the long history

of the world. Those of us who are over 35 or so years of age grew up in a different America.

We were taught very directly what it means to be an American.

From the Heritage Foundation, I'm Michelle Cordero, and this is Heritage Explains.

You just heard a famous line from President Reagan's farewell speech in 1989.

Reagan went on to talk about how we're taught to love our country,

that many decades ago it was almost absorbed in the air from our family, neighbors, and schools.

Well, today, in the spirit of Halloween, I'm about to tell you a scary story.

And it starts with former Attorney General Eric Holder.

It's when I hear these things about let's make America great again.

I think to myself, well, exactly when did you think America was great?

And here's New York Governor Andrew Cuomo.

A simple point is all this comes down to this.

We're not going to make America great again.

It was never that great.

HALSTRA University students now demanding the removal of a statue of Thomas Jefferson from their campus,

accusing our former president of alleged gruesome behavior towards African Americans.

I don't care if it's a George Washington statue or a Thomas Jefferson statue or a Robert

Ely statue.

They all need to come down.

...