Smart Girl Nation, November Edition, Article, "Defining Patriotism"

The latest issue of Smart Girl Nation, published by Smart Girl Politics Action, was released today.  Below is an excerpt from my article, called Defining Patriotism.  Hope you enjoy!  (You can read the rest here.)

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“Patriotism is not short, frenzied outbursts of emotion, but the tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime.”  America was founded with many basic values.  We were a God-fearing people, striving for liberty, and the good will of people was evident at every turn.  Sadly, we as a nation have strayed from many of those founding principles.  We are now in danger of losing another; one that has been an underlying theme in every American success.  Patriotism exemplifies everything America is about.  Love of country is much of the reason America is different from every other nation.  If we lose that, most of our superiority in the world goes with it.

Patriotism is something that has been instilled in Americans' hearts for generations.  This country gave many people the opportunity to achieve their “American Dream”, giving them a very strong love for their country.  It was of great importance to them that their children learn that same love of country, through telling their stories to their children, and teaching them that America truly is the land of opportunity.  They, in turn, grew up to tell their own children the same thing, sharing their own stories of American success, with a sense of pride and patriotism which every American who has achieved their dreams understands. 

Patriotism is the driving force behind our military.  As Nathan Hale, a spy in the American Revolution, said, “I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.”  Every person that enlists in our armed forces has a patriotism the rest of America should strive for.  To have the courage to leave your family for the cause of freedom is something worthy of being admired and replicated to everyone in America.  They love their country enough to sacrifice themselves for it, and that is true patriotism: “Love of country and willingness to sacrifice for it.”  Thousands of young Americans have given their lives for this country.  While not all of us are called to follow in their footsteps into war, we can embody that same kind of patriotism by showing how much we appreciate their sacrifice.  Even a smile and a thank-you shows a soldier how much you appreciate him or her.  The fact that a person would give of themselves so that we could have freedom ought to elicit a feeling of patriotism from every single American. 

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Defining Patriotism

Patriotism is something that most Americans pride themselves in.  Everywhere, you see the "Proud to be American" signs and stickers, you see flags waving high and proud.  Most people take this for granted, either as something they assume they already have or something they do not need to focus too much on having.  One person not caring enough won't make too much of a difference, will it?

It will.  Every person who is a American citizen should love this country and the things it stands for.  They should loudly say that they are a proud American.  Too many people today are just assuming that by living here, they are being patriotic as they should be.  This is just not enough.  I'm not saying to go out to an open field and scream it at the top of your lungs (although, maybe that would get something started!).  I'm saying that we need to show the other nations in the world that we are America.  There is so much more to those words than, I think, anyone can fully realize.

The word "patriotism" means devoted love, support, and defense of one's country.  "Patriot" means a person who loves, supports, and defends his or her country and its interests with devotion.  Notice that in both descriptions, the word devotion is key.  We must be devoted to this country in order to call ourselves proud, patriotic Americans.  I think that we as a nation are, sadly, losing sight of this goal.  The goal to keep patriotism going strong and teach it to the generations to come.  Without patriotism, America is nothing more than another place on the map.  The reason that we are what we are today is because of faith, hard work, and patriotic hearts.

Most people who want to rebuild this nation, give the economy a "jolt" (to quote President Obama), recognize that we need the first two.  The third is something commonly overlooked.  If we are just taking care of America for the sake of doing it, nothing will truly change.  It takes hearts and minds fully devoted to this country in order to make a difference. 

The fact that our current president does not have this attitude is not helping us teach others to.  When our nation's leader, who should be a walking example of that patriotic spirit, goes to other nations and apologizes for America-- just for being America-- we do not have the example we should.  This leaves the responsibility to true, die-hard patriots who want to make a difference.

Anyone can truly make a difference and influence others if they are willing to take that responsibility.  The word influence is taken from the Latin word, influenza, which is what we call the flu.  Just as the flu spreads quickly from person to person, your influence on someone will cause them to influence someone else, causing a chain reaction.  Everyone has influence on someone.  Right now, we need more influences for loving this country.  America is the greatest nation on earth.  We are the only true free nation in the modern world.  Most nations have to have walls and fences to keep people in; we have to have them to keep people out!  There are that many people longing for the opportunity to live in a free nation.  Too many of the people who do live here take that for granted, or do not recognize how special that privilege truly is. 

This weekend would be a perfect opportunity to start this.  The tenth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks are a time that every American will be united together once again.  All we would have to do is continue it through the weekend and pass it on to others. 

It just seems like too many people are losing faith in the American dream.  They are losing the feeling of patriotism and love for their country they once had, whether it be through something they have seen, heard, or done.  Maybe it is nothing they can put a finger on, but they know they are losing the faith they once had in America and its leaders. 

Patriotism does come by who is in the White House, what the stock market is doing, or how much money you have.  Among other things, it comes through seeing an American flag waving high above a building.  Through seeing the Statue of Liberty sitting on Liberty Island.  It comes through seeing our men and women in uniform, fighting for our freedom.  It comes through hearing the Pledge of Allegiance and our national anthem.  With those things, patriotism is bound to swell up in any true American's heart.