American identity, character, and civic life are shaped by many things, but decisive among them are our national memories—of our long history, our triumphs and tragedies, our national aspirations and achievements. Crucial to the national memory are the words our forebears wrote, to show us who we are and what we might yet become.

The health news for the New York City is good — very good, in fact. And it must be especially gratifying to Bloomberg, given his longstanding personal commitment to public health. But it isn’t clear that the official narrative of New York’s health progress actually conforms with the health story for New York over the last decade.

What exactly do we celebrate on Veterans Day? To be sure, we mean to honor the brave men and women, living and dead, who have fought America’s battles, past and present. But honor them how, and for what? About these matters, we lack a clear national answer.

Once again, high gasoline prices are in the news. As of this writing, the national average gasoline price per gallon price is hovering around $3.79.

The American flag is unusual, both in looks and significance. But as symbol of the nation, it has a meaning and a function beyond what individual citizens make of it.

Moving Election Day to the weekend means more convenience and less expense.

The electric-gas hybrid Chevy Volt is too expensive to be practical for the average American consumer and is designed to meet the demands of an ideological market fostered by upscale urban liberals.