Free Essay

Patriotism

In: English and Literature

Submitted By scpowers
Words 536
Pages 3
Shelby Powers
Allen
Summer Assignment 14 August 2014

"The modern patriotism, the true patriotism, the only rational patriotism is loyal to the nation all the time, loyal to the government when it deserves it." This quote by Mark Twain says that a true patriot is loyal to the people of their country all the time but only loyal to their government when they’ve earned that patriot’s loyalty. The cartoon “Livin’ La Vida Sofa” is saying something very different. The point the artist is trying to get across in the cartoon is that a person should be loyal only to himself. The person is only loyal to the people of their country and the government of their country when they that the nation deserve it or whenever the person feels like being supportive to them. I agree with Mark Twain that the people of our nation have my loyalty all the time while the government only has it while they deserve it. The government doesn’t make up the nation. The people make up the nation and this is why I agree with Twain and not the cartoon. If someone is a true patriot of their country they should always be faithful to their people. Even if someone is loyal to their nation all the time it doesn’t mean they have to be loyal to their government. Sometimes the government doesn’t have the same views as some of the people of their country and often the government will do something at least one person in their country won’t agree with. So as Mark Twain said; the people always has a true patriot’s loyalty but the government will only have the loyalty of that patriot when they deserve it. While I agree with Twain’s quote I don’t agree with the artist of the “Livin’ La Vida Sofa.” The message from the cartoon is that a citizen should only care about himself. A resident of a nation should not be loyal only to himself. It’s very selfish to have loyalties only to yourself when the country is made up of millions and was established on the concept of “we the people”. When one cares only about himself he becomes very selfish, lazy, and becomes complacent. The person feels entitled and feels they don’t have to work for a living and deserve handouts. It seemed in the cartoon that the character was lazy and wouldn’t do anything for others unless there was something in it for him. I don’t agree with the artist’s point of view because one should work for the things he has and if he doesn’t he shouldn’t feel like everyone else owes him for doing nothing. In conclusion, a person should be loyal to his nation all the time even if the governent of the nation doesn’t deserve it. Also one should not think everyone in the world owes him while he sits around and does nothing to deserve their loyalty. In the end you are responsible you’re responsible for the path you take in life

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