America is graduate level citizenship

From James Fallows' "A No Regrets Response to the Tucson Shootings":

America is graduate level citizenship. It requires an advanced level of attention and maturity.  We are committed to share this country with people of opposite persuasions and to resolve our differences through political struggle and not violence, all the while accepting, respecting, and even honoring our foes as Americans.  Our foes keep us honest; our foes move us down the road toward wisdom.  America is, by definition, imperfect, because it is the never ending quest for the "more perfect union"; a union of foes.