It has been on my mind to discuss this subject for some time. Certainly patriotism's application will be different for each individual, but the definition is concrete:
-- devoted love, support, and defense of one's country; national loyalty.
I'm not going to make the claim that a person needs to serve in the military in order to be a patriot, but if you really want to understand this concept it helps. Patriotism and it's application really come down to one concept that is a little easier for most to understand, sacrifice. The time you sacrifice in the polling booth is patriotic, sacrificing more money in order to purchase the American made version of an item is patriotic. Think about it, if you truly love something or someone is not sacrifice the true measure by which that love is displayed?
The greatest sacrifice, life. A gracious God once said "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends." The men of the armed forces understand this idea better then any! We place our lives in harms way, sometimes making the ultimate sacrifice for our country. Not just our country but the ideals of our country, the declaration that "All men are created Equal," the freedoms guaranteed us by the Constitution, we fight proudly so that people can shout ideas we hate... freely!
I myself have never had to sacrifice as much as some, but I understand sacrifice. I've sat shoulder to shoulder with patriotic men in a bunker while my chest reverberated with the explosions of mortars aimed at ending not just my life but the American way of life. I have loaded my bags into a friends car in order to defend this country while my 2 year old son beat his fists on the door of the house yelling "Dada, don't go!" These are not things a man does for himself, these sacrifices are made for others.
I will continue to sacrifice even for those who tell the world that they support the troops, and then label my actions as immoral saying I fight in a illegal war, those who have no pride in their country, and those who have never sacrificed a thing for this country.
I am a Patriot!
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3 comments:
Thank you for all you sacrifice for our Lord, our country, and our family. I am so proud of the man you are, and of the man you will lead our son to become. And I love you every minute of every day. M :-)
I read this a long time ago. Was just dropping by to see if you were still there. Heart wrenching article. Hope you keep it up.
I'm still around. I imagine in the next week I will crank out a couple posts. Thanks for the encouragement.
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