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Waving the flag doesn’t make you a patriot. The same goes for wearing a miniature flag as a lapel pin - owning a flag doesn’t automatically make you better than another American. A patriot celebrates the flag, but that doesn’t define a patriot.
So what is a patriot? The dictionary states that a patriot is “a person who vigorously supports their country and is prepared to defend it against enemies or detractors.” We understand what it means to “defend” our country – it means to serve in the armed forces. But what does it mean to “support” our country?
My interpretation is that it means to support our form of government – that is, a democracy. It means voting to elect your representatives and supporting those elected whether or not they are from your party. You don’t have to agree with them, but if they are elected by a fair vote of the people, you ought to support them. It also means paying your taxes and observing the laws. If you disagree with a law, you can vote to change it, but a patriot must obey the law until it’s peaceably changed. Patriots support those who preserve the law - the police, the National Guard, the FBI, and other law enforcement agencies.
Supporting our country means to give an honest day’s work for an honest day’s pay. It also means earning a fair profit but not an excessive one that shortchanges an allegedly patriotic business owners’ employees. It means dealing fairly and honestly with both your customers and employees.
Supporting our country means supporting the Constitution and Bill of Rights. A patriot protects freedom of religion, regardless of his or her own faith. A patriot protects the right to freedom of speech even though he or she doesn’t agree with the speaker, freedom of the press even though he or she doesn’t agree with what is written, freedom to assemble even if he or she is not part of the assembly, freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures regardless of who is being searched, and the due process under the law for everyone.
A patriot knows that if even one single person’s rights are restricted, no one is free.
Last but not least, patriots - even if they do not serve in the armed forces – support those that do serve.
So what is a patriot? The dictionary states that a patriot is “a person who vigorously supports their country and is prepared to defend it against enemies or detractors.” We understand what it means to “defend” our country – it means to serve in the armed forces. But what does it mean to “support” our country?
My interpretation is that it means to support our form of government – that is, a democracy. It means voting to elect your representatives and supporting those elected whether or not they are from your party. You don’t have to agree with them, but if they are elected by a fair vote of the people, you ought to support them. It also means paying your taxes and observing the laws. If you disagree with a law, you can vote to change it, but a patriot must obey the law until it’s peaceably changed. Patriots support those who preserve the law - the police, the National Guard, the FBI, and other law enforcement agencies.
Supporting our country means to give an honest day’s work for an honest day’s pay. It also means earning a fair profit but not an excessive one that shortchanges an allegedly patriotic business owners’ employees. It means dealing fairly and honestly with both your customers and employees.
Supporting our country means supporting the Constitution and Bill of Rights. A patriot protects freedom of religion, regardless of his or her own faith. A patriot protects the right to freedom of speech even though he or she doesn’t agree with the speaker, freedom of the press even though he or she doesn’t agree with what is written, freedom to assemble even if he or she is not part of the assembly, freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures regardless of who is being searched, and the due process under the law for everyone.
A patriot knows that if even one single person’s rights are restricted, no one is free.
Last but not least, patriots - even if they do not serve in the armed forces – support those that do serve.
Patriotism
Pride
United States
American Flag
Command Post
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 14
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LTC Monte Anderson
What is a patriot? I would argue that in our Republic, it is not blindly following the latest batch of representatives BUT standing firm to what our nation is founded on. The elected officials and everyone in the military takes an oath to protect and defend the Constitution. I think the real difference between the patriot and everyone else is not the love of rights and freedoms but being willing to step up and actually meet the responsibilities and obligations that come with those rights and freedoms.
What is a patriot? I would argue that in our Republic, it is not blindly following the latest batch of representatives BUT standing firm to what our nation is founded on. The elected officials and everyone in the military takes an oath to protect and defend the Constitution. I think the real difference between the patriot and everyone else is not the love of rights and freedoms but being willing to step up and actually meet the responsibilities and obligations that come with those rights and freedoms.
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It really helps to learn about one's nation. That used to be routine until civics were eliminated from American public schools. Thus, we not only have children thinking that we're a "democracy" but also Presidents who try to replicate "democracy" in other nations. Sad. Democracy is the tyranny of the majority. Look at how well it worked in Iraq...
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The dictionary is pretty narrow. I'd say a single mom struggling to raise her kids to be good citizens is a Patriot. First responders protecting our lives fall into that category too. That said, it isn't so much as what we are or what we do, it's the frame of mind in which we do it and live. Lots of Patriots out there.
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