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What Is Patriotism?

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What is patriotism?

Patriotism is more than just wearing a red t-shirt and blue jeans on the fourth of July with the occasional fireworks in the evening. And it is way more than routing Michal Phelps to the gold. Calling yourself a patriot and living like one are two completely different things. The standard dictionary definition reads patriotism as “love of one's country.” This captures the root meaning of the term in ordinary use, but it just might be thought of too lightly and in need of a little more elaborating. True patriotism comes through showing loyalty to your country, treating others with respect, and knowing what to or what not to sacrifice. Patriotism is showing loyalty, and when you are loyal to your country, you love your country. It does not have to mean that you are only a patriot if you are wearing a camouflage cargo uniform and calling Afghanistan your home for a year or two. And it certainly does not mean that you shout “amen” after the President is finished with his speech. To be a patriot, you stand with what your country was built on and defend yourself and others on the truth that was handed down by our forefathers that lead your nation to what it is now and to what is expected to last for generations to come. Patriotism is respect, not only for your country, but to others as well. There is nothing more admirable than showing yourself as a respectable citizen by honoring the traditions and cultures of other people of foreign descent. A patriot does not bash one’s own or other nation’s system of government, regulations of living, cultural traditions, or certain aspects of political views or religious beliefs. There should be no reason to expect your country to prosper if you expect another country to fall. Instead of criticism and judgment, see if there is anything you can do to help. And respectively speaking, this goes all the way

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