In the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States we are seeing many forms of Patriotism. I was suprised to find when I researched this word that it had a negative feeling associated with it. I believe that patriotism is actively showing your support for your country, standing up for what you believe in, and fighting for our individual free will and independence.
I am proud of my country and I am not ashamed to fly the American Flag. Many men and women have died to give me the freedoms that I take for granted.
I applaud their patriotism, and I thank them for giving me my way of life. I will support them in protecting my country. I will try to elect officials who believe in the issues I do, and who work for the better good of all. I will not follow blindly and not ask questions or agree with everything my government says or does. I hope that you, as an American citizen will learn about your government and actively support it, by voting, writing your congressmen, and making a difference for peace.
In standing up for what I believe in, I will not be ignorant of other people.
I can be assertive in my beliefs without trying to impose them on my fellow citizens. America stands for diversity and to have patriotism to her is to believe that all people have a right to believe in thier own system of values. I do not agree with Emma Goldman, who stated: “Patriotism assumes that our globe is divided into little spots, each one surrounded by an iron gate. Those who had the fortune of being born on some particular spot, consider themselves better, nobler, grander, more intelligent then the living beings inhabited by any other spot. It is therefore, the duty of everyone living on that chosen spot to fight, kill and die in the attempt to impose his superiority upon all others.” On the contrary, patriotism stands for fighting for everyone to have the same freedom that I do.
We did not ask for terrorist to attack our country, but it is our duty to defend her, not blindly as people would say we do, but earnestly keeping the good of all in mind. Richard Maybury, author of Early Warning Report, wrote: “The only thing I would be willing to die for is my home and family; I would do what ever it takes to repel an invader, to protect my homeland. When I am deciding what I think of a U.S. military operation in some far off corner of the world, I always ask this question, would this be worth my life? If the answer is no, then I don’t think it would be worth anyone else’s life either.” In agreeing with that I will fly my flag, and stand proud.
I will try to elect good leaders, and fight for freedom if I have to.
Patriotism is not the ugly word I have seen some try to make it be, instead it is the belief that all men are created equal and in believing that, being willing to stand up and protect yourself from those who choose to try and take away those freedoms. .
