Democrats have seized the symbols of American patriotism this election.

Flags filled the hall the night Kamala Harris accepted the nomination (photo).

She told the story of her family – and how she’ll fight for our families.

She vowed to fight for freedom:

“(W)hen Congress passes a bill to restore reproductive freedom, as president of the United States, I will proudly sign it into law. In this election, many other fundamental freedoms are at stake. The freedom to live safe from gun violence in our schools, communities and places of worship. The freedom to love who you love openly and with pride. The freedom to breathe clean air, and drink clean water and live free from the pollution that fuels the climate crisis. And the freedom that unlocks all the others: the freedom to vote.”

And we’ve got football.

Coach Tim Walz’s players from the Mankato West High School football team showed up, wearing their old jerseys.

Walz gave a pep talk:

“So let me finish with this, team. It’s the fourth quarter. We’re down a field goal. But we’re on offense and we’ve got the ball. We’re driving down the field. And boy, do we have the right team. Kamala Harris is tough. Kamala Harris is experienced. And Kamala Harris is ready. Our job, our job, our job, our job for everyone watching, is to get in the trenches and do the blocking and tackling. One inch at a time. One yard at a time. One phone call at a time. One door knock at a time. One $5 donation at a time.”

This Chicago convention was a far cry from the Democrats’ 1968 Chicago convention, when a divided party tore itself apart on the floor and on the streets over the Vietnam war, civil rights, patriotism and social and cultural change.

Ever since, we’ve struggled to sync up our love of America with our critique of America.

This year, we figured it out.

Just in time for the election – and football season.