How Do You Define Patriotism?

650 Words2 Pages

Patriotism

Patriotism is defined as a love for or a devotion to one’s country. With the events that happened in America on September 11th, patriotism has been in everyone’s mind and heart. Young men and women have been enlisting in the armed forces to support America. Americans are flying flags on their cars and homes to show their patriotism. Millions of Americans are donating money and blood in support of the victims of the attacks. I would define patriotism as a loyalty and commitment to America and the people in our country.

One way to define patriotism is to look at an example of my enlistment in the Army and the training that I received in Basic. I decided to join the Army in 1996 after an unsuccessful attempt at college. I decided I wanted to serve my country by defending our freedom in the event that a war should happen and help other countries abroad defend their freedom also. It was in Basic Training that I was taught hand-to-hand combat, how to accurately fire a M16 machine gun, ground tactics and camouflage. The training I received prepared me to be ready to defend America. I was committed to serve and protect the country where I lived. I was displaying my patriotism for America by defending the freedoms that I and other Americans have in this country.

Another way to define patriotism is to look at the effect the attack on September 11th had on how Americans show their patriotism. The attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon aff...

Show More
Related

  • The Belittlement Charge: Rhetoric Technique

    689 Words  | 2 Pages

    Working sort of opposite to patriotism is emulation. Emulation works by giving the audience a role model that they idolize, someone containing vast quantities of ethos in their eyes. This is the most positive of the three emotions intended to get the audience up. Inciting anger

    Read More

  • Espionage Act of 1917 and Sedition Act (Amendment) of 1918

    1469 Words  | 3 Pages

    Despite earlier resistance to the war by the American people, once war was declared patriotism swept over the nation. However, patriotism rose to it?s peak and quickly turned to an intolerance for any kind of dissidence of the war.

    Read More

  • Response to Conflict in All Quiet on the Western Front and Narrative of Frederick Douglass

    807 Words  | 2 Pages

    Patriotism is defines as love and devotion to one's country, usually out of self devotion. Nationalism is an adulterated version of patriotism where aspirations for national independence in a country under foreign domination is forced upon the people by society, or an authoritative figure.

    Read More

  • Effects of the War on the Students of Devon in A Separate Peace

    1167 Words  | 3 Pages

    ... and in doing so represent their country even more. Trying to be patriotic becomes hard for Brinker when his father wants him not to embarrass himself and do more for the country because Brinker feels that his father doesn?t understand that he is afraid to go to war. Brinker says", He and his crowd are responsible for it and we're going to fight it " (190). This quote shows how agitated Brinker is with his father for trying to tell him to accomplish more in a dangerous war, that Brinker wants nothing to do with, that can possibly lead to his own death. To sum up, patriotism is a necessity in going to war and representing the country because it shows feelings from the fighter to his or her country.

    Read More

  • Nationalism In The Era Of Good Feelings

    869 Words  | 2 Pages

    “Nationalism(n.) - loyalty or devotion to a nation, especially an attitude, feeling, or belief characterize by a sense of national consciousness” (The War of 1812 and the Rise of Nationalism 1). Nationalism was a crucial part of America’s success during the War of 1812; nationalism was reflected in the post-war period through increased national pride, emphasis on national issues, increase in power and scope of the national government, and a growing sense of American identity (The War of 1812 and the Rise of Nationalism 1). The first to arise which was the driving force behind American victories against the British was nationalism. This nationalism was expressed in four ways; patriotism, political, economical and cultural. American patriotism

    Read More

  • Eleanor Roosevelt True Patriotism

    1038 Words  | 3 Pages

    For example, Mark Twain expressed his hatred by stating, “A patriot sets himself apart in his own country under his own flag, sneers at other nations and keeps an army of uniformed assassins on hand at heavy expense to grab slices of other people’s countries and keep them from grabbing slices of his. In the intervals between campaigns he washes the blood off his hands and works for ‘the universal brotherhood of man’ with his mouth.” Twain makes many valid points by bring up how patriotism encourages hatred and distrust for other countries, promoting war by having an army of assassins, and washing away wrongful violations within the country. Numerous Americans have shown similar controversy in regards to whether they should support patriotism. Despite the fact that patriotism can bring social culture and bonding together, it can ultimately become destructive and does more harm than

    Read More

  • What They Fought For Summary

    1058 Words  | 3 Pages

    In “What They Fought For”. James McPherson engages the reader with the general themes of what motivated the individual soldier to enter to fight in the Civil War. The book is divided into three chapters, giving the insight of many soldiers being divided by the border between the north and south. The lack of censorship at the time allows the reader to clearly see the insight of what these soldiers were trying to display. Although the soldiers are not equally represented by these few letters. There are still a lot of factors that could ultimately affected the overall believes of the soldiers. For example the opinion of the illiterate soldiers were not disclosed because they lacked the ability to write, the unskilled and farmers were also under

    Read More

  • Cause And Effect Essay On 9/11

    714 Words  | 2 Pages

    On the first day after the Twin Towers fell, when the skies were silent and the country cried, a sense of patriotism was greatly increased and appreciated. Many people came from several different countries, with many different skills, but everyone who came all had one

    Read More

  • Patriotism as Bad Faith

    343 Words  | 1 Pages

    Simon Keller argues in his essay "Patriotism as Bad Faith" that patriotism is not a virtue but it is actually a vice. Keller begins by splitting the views on this philosophical debate into three different representations. The first being the "communitarian patriot", where patriotism is not only a valued virtue to someone's self but that it is actually an essential virtue. The second representation is a radical contradiction of the first, known as the "hard universalist. The hard Universalist sees patriotism as a vice instead of being any type of positive virtue. They think that everyone should be valued the same, and that there should be no favoritism. The third representation is the idea of the first two combined, to form what is called the "soft universalist." This view is understood as patriotism is allowed, and is not seen as a vice, but also that one has an obligation to the rest of the world, almost to try and treat them as a loyalty that you would have towards your own country. (p.112).

    Read More

  • The Duel

    1039 Words  | 3 Pages

    In a footnote there lies a a brilliant explanation of this idea. Dr. Johnson states ''Nationalism is the last refuge of a scoundrel. Patriotism is defensive, while nationalism is aggressive. Patriotism is not a substitute for a relig... ... middle of paper ...

    Read More

  • Kids Must Do More Than Recite the Pledge of Allegiance

    753 Words  | 2 Pages

    When patriotism becomes the daily reciting of the Pledge, waving the flag and never looking beyond your own small piece of the world, we do harm to our own country and the cause of true liberty and true peace in the world.

    Read More

  • Nationalism And Nationalism

    1339 Words  | 3 Pages

    World War I, also known as “The Great War”, was a global war that revolved mainly around Europe. It took place from 1914 to 1918. This was a very brutal war that caused many casualties. The soldiers who survived experienced severe trauma and mental discomfort. This trauma was a direct result of the violence and agony they experienced during the war. Motivation for this war was the idea of nationalism and the pride in one’s country. This war was the cause of disillusionment among many of the soldiers that were involved in it.

    Read More

  • Patriotism and The American Flag

    1007 Words  | 3 Pages

    The exploration of what patriotism is and what represents patriotism is an important one more people should embark upon. If Americans are to examine patriotisms true meaning, we will be able to abolish this faux patriotism, which is represented by intimidation, censorship, and majority rules attitudes or actions. This can be replaced by feelings and actions of caring, compassion, acceptance, rationality, and nonviolence, or in other words, patriotism.

    Read More

  • Nazism as an Extension of Nationalism

    885 Words  | 2 Pages

    pride for and are loyal to. It is a belief in your nation. In a

    Read More

  • Patriotism in the Film Olympus Has Fallen

    547 Words  | 2 Pages

    Patriotism means love of one’s country. A country, on which one is born and brought up and develops, is valuable to him than any other country. This desire for his country expands into loyalty. One who is dedicated will be willing to perform a sacrifice for his motherland. One can be a volunteer by maintaining a decent image of one’s country before the eyes of strangers. A patriot will never move down his country or analyze his government before newcomers. He will attempt to extend the best reflection of his country when he comes into touch with families of other nations. A true patriot will go to the fight with a smiling face to devote his life, if needed; he will help poor and the distressed people of his country out of empathy that results from patriotism. He will dedicate himself to the work of improvement of his own people. Patriotism is presented every day on TV, universities, etc. America has symbols that stand for our country that we love. One of famous symbols is the Statue of Liberty, which was the gift from the French.

    Read More

More about How Do You Define Patriotism?

Open Document