True Patriotism
By Smith2028
@Smith2028 (797)
United States
April 4, 2007 12:00am CST
I usually reserve my rants for my personal website, but this one is going here.
I love my country. I love everything about it. I love that I can say what I want, wear what I want, go where I want, read what I want, write what I want.
I love that many years ago some men stood up to the tyranny and formed a brand new nation. A nation concieved in the very notions of freedom and liberty. And they did this with the foresight knowing that we are human and we can not be trusted with absolute power.
I love that years later, a group of states realized that the Constitution was not a legally binding contract rather it was a loose agreement written by the people to the Government and when the Government stopped listening, they left and formed a new country. And although the way they were forced back was illegal, I love that they are back.
I love the Red, the White and the Blue. Each of the 50 states working together to make a nation that in less than 200 years rose to the top and a little over 200 years established themselves as the single greatest soverign nation.
I love my country for a multitude of reasons. And no matter who is President, no matter how much I disagree with him (or maybe even her someday) I would never consider leaving this nation.
Too many people today have forgotten that this country and so many before them have given everything they can so that we can enjoy our day to day lives.
Ok, I get it. You don't like President Bush. But give the man a little respect. Out of 300 Million people in this country, we chose him to be our leader.. twice. Love him, hate him, be indifferent about him, feel whatever you will, but if you would even consider leaving this country because of the man that the country chooses to lead it, let me know. I will buy you a ticket, I will help you pack, I will drive you to the airport myself because you are not a true patriot and you are disrespecting the dream of so many people who spilled their blood to get this nation where it is today.
5 people like this
7 responses
@James72 (26790)
• Australia
4 Apr 07
Your belief in your country and your understanding of how it came to where it is today is commendable! It has never ceased to amaze me how patriotic American's can be and I have not come across many other countries whose citizens are their equals in that regard!
What I am interested to know is how tolerant or understanding you are of other countries, their policies, beliefs and structures? Have you had the opportunity to explore many other parts of the world. If so, how did you find them in comparison overall?
I too am very "fond" of my home country Australia and as I have been living and working overseas for over two years now, have learnt to appreciate aspects of my country that I previously took for granted. I have however also had the opportunity to realise several injustices such as the cost of living differences and high taxation compared to other countries.
1 person likes this
@Smith2028 (797)
• United States
4 Apr 07
I love other cultures and beliefs, unless they are based in hate and destruction. While I may not agree with many other countries and their governments (not mentioning France, Germany and Russia by name of course) I respect the way they are and the sacrifices it takes to get there.
2 people like this
@James72 (26790)
• Australia
4 Apr 07
Good to know! The last few years have been a major eye opener for me as it has allowed me to experience life from a number of different perspectives. I am in India right now and some experiences here make me realise how lucky I am to be Australian yet some experiences also make me somewhat envious of their life here as well.
1 person likes this
@naty1941 (2336)
• United States
4 Apr 07
It is very nice to hear someone say they are proud of their country. Most of the time I hear people complaining about the USA. Usually they complain about the politicians and the government. They don't know how good they have it. I am originally from Puerto Rico and my people fight in the USA military even though we cannot vote for the President when we reside in Puerto Rico. However, we hold very deep respect for the President of the USA as it should be.
1 person likes this
@bobmnu (8157)
• United States
5 Apr 07
Winston Churchill said it best when he said that you judge a country greatness not by what the people are saying but by the number of people trying to get in. At last count they say there are 12,000,000 trying to get in Illegally and millions more trying to get in legally.
The other saying and I don't know who said it is "There are only two people who have given their lives willingly for strangers - The American GI and Jesus Christ"
We have a great nation and we change when new people bring new and good ideas to us, not when people come in and want us to change so they can have the best of both worlds. The old saying from the Viet Nam era was America Love It or Leave It. If things are so wrong in this country go and find another contry to live in and see if America, with all it faults, isn't the greatest Country in the world.
@hockeygal4ever (10021)
• United States
6 Apr 07
I've always had the attitude that if you don't have anything good to say about this country you can LEAVE it. I've told many people who've complained about the US that they are not being held captive here. My daughter has a teacher who in fact was making derogatory comments about Americans in general and how the country thinks they're so big and bad and the best. My daughter was livid, stood up in class and told him "So why are you here reaping the benefits of the country if you hate it so bad? Leave!" He was astounded. I'm sure she didn't make a friend that day but I do know that he realized that she IS proud of her country and will stand up to anyone who has something to say about it.
What I find so amazing is that people are quick to slam us but when the going gets rough, who's the first country they expect to be there helping? Ticks me off to say the least!
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
5 Apr 07
All I can say here is Amen!
I love the USA too. It is also my hope that everyone would love their own country.
I hear people complain about America but I have yet to hear of people jumping on makeshift rafts or risking life and limb to leave the US.
I also have yet to hear of anyone who jumped on a makeshift raft or risked life and limb to get to the US taking the same risks to get back to where they came from. So far those who get hear usually stay. Those who do want to get back to their home country do so out of patriotism, not out of desperation to get out of here.
Yeah, the US has her problems, and our people and leaders don't always do the right thing, but even her detractors have to admit that they are free to be detractors.
@skydancer (2101)
• United States
7 Apr 07
It is nice to see someone who has never forgotten the true meaning of the "American Dream." While some may consider it brutal, this really is what made us the nation we are today, and as Winston Churchill once stated, "A nation that forgets its past is doomed to repeat it."
To see anyone who never takes these freedoms for granted is always refreshing. Freedom is not something carried on through the bloodstreem. It is something that was fought for long and hard and must continue to be fought for. And patriotism should be about the the idea off which this nation was established that it was done for the sake of the people and their freedom, not on whether or not you like the president. As JFK famously stated, "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country." It is a statement that seems to have been forgotton by too many, especially now, and it's disturbing to me on so many levels.
@Destiny007 (5805)
• United States
4 Apr 07
Well said.
If only more people felt the way you do, and supported our president in the bad days as well as the good.
