Mark Twain once said, "In the beginning of a change, the patriot is a scarce man, and brave, and hated and scorned. When his cause succeeds, the timid join him, for then it cost nothing to be a patriot." From the birth of our great country, Americans were given a gift...veterans. As they fall, others rise up to take their place, avenging their brothers and sisters and protecting their beloved country. America gives us veterans, and veterans sacrifice everything to give us the freedoms our generation sometimes takes for granted. First, the sacrifices veterans make are all for the benefit of this country. We often presume that all of the privileges we have today will never go away and that our freedom was free. What many people of this generation do not understand is that freedom comes at a …show more content…
In this time and day many people speak out, often rudely, against our government, yet they do not realize that the freedom of press was bought by a courageous soldier. Any time we attend church or another religious event we must remember that we would likely be persecuted had we not been granted this liberty by veterans. We grumble about going to school instead of being at home, lazily doing the things that please us, only to ignore the truth, that these are privileges we 'ought to be grateful for. Many more freedoms were yielded to us at the founding of our nation and yet some are specific to this day and time. For example, brave men and women are fighting against all of the controversial events happening in the world today in order to keep our nation safe. In the present generation veterans are extremely important. Not only should we be grateful that someone is protecting us now, but we must also respect and appreciate the experienced veterans, and those no longer with us, for believing us as the future generation (I certainly hope we are living up to that expectation). This idea that America's gift to our generation is the veteran is not
Benjamin Franklin, one of the Founding Fathers to the United States, was not a patriot but a mere loyalist to England before the dissolution between England and the colonies occurred. Sheila L. Skemp's The Making of a Patriot explores how Benjamin Franklin tried to stay loyal to the crown while taking interest in the colonies perception and their own representation in Parliament. While Ms. Skemp alludes to Franklin's loyalty, her main illustration is how the attack by Alexander Wedderburn during the Privy Council led to Franklin's disillusionment with the British crown and the greater interest in making the Thirteen Colonies their own nation. Her analysis of Franklin's history in Parliament and what occurred on the night that the council convened proves the change behind Franklin's beliefs and what lead to his involvement in the Declaration of Independence and the American Revolution.
Our veterans helped make our country the best country, which is known for fact.Today, because of our veterans I’m proud to say that every citizen has the right to speak and share their voice no matter what their race is. In some countries, there are still racial conflicts and all races.I am also proud to say that every child in America,no matter what their race is, they can have a free education. Most children in other countries are not allowed to go to school because they can’t afford it instead, they go to work
“Line up Soldiers!” The Red-Coat was screaming at us the second we got off the bus telling us to line up and to be quiet. My fifth grade class was on a field trip on this windy November morning. We were at Riley’s Farm and about to live for a day like we were in 1765 as a Patriot during the American Revolution. We were on the bus for 2.5 hours and finally we arrived.
When you look into veterans eyes, you can see several things that are important. The pride shines through, the pride of serving ones country, and the dedication to protect other peoples freedom even it if requires paying the ultimate price. These men and women give their lives to give us our freedom. As a one of the many individuals that they are protecting it is vital that we see that pride and appreciate where it comes from.
America’s veterans should be honored because they have suffered through so many hardships that others could not and have not survived, and they did it for their country that they loved and still love today.
Cave, Damien. "What Does It Mean to Be American?" The New York Times. The New York Times, 2014. Web. 04 Sept. 2016.
“A Veteran is someone, who at one point in their life, wrote a blank check payable to the United States of America for an amount up to, and including, their life. Regardless of personal political views, that is an honor, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer remember that fact.”
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).
Steve Buyer, a member of the house of representatives from Indiana’s fourth district, once said, “Because all of us believe and understand in the fabric of the common bond of why we call ourselves American is to care for the men and women who wear the uniform; and when they take off the uniform, we care for them when they are veterans.” After men or women finish their time serving our country, and they take off their uniform, it does not rid the title of Veteran from them. They are still the brave ones who fought and served for America. The care for the Veterans of America is a crucial part in giving back to those who risked their lives for our country. Veterans need to be taken care of medically, mentally, and financially more as promised by President Obama. “It's a commitment that begins at enlistment, and it must never end. But we know that for too long, we've fallen short of meeting that commitment. Too many wounded warriors go without the care that they need. Too many veterans don't receive the support that they've earned. Too many who once wore our nation's uniform now sleep in our nation's streets."
Veterans are a hearty lot. They serve and sacrifice, and having the honor of wearing the uniform is enough thanks for most of them.
What does it mean to be an American? To me, what it means to be American is to Pledge Allegiance to your country, to proudly boast that you live in a country that has a justification for existence, to be given opportunity. Although there are many definitions of what it means to be an American, does being an American really just mean being successful in society? The point of this essay is to describe the different meanings and my feelings of what it is to be “American”.
The moment I visited the veterans seems frozen in time. Tears stream down my face as I listen to the stories. My heart pounds as I think about how they must have felt.Thank you to all veterans for teaching me about my responsibility to America’s future and putting America on the path to
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.
“There is nothing wrong with America that cannot be cured by what is right with America” (Bill Clinton). Although a hopeful statement, America currently finds itself divided as a nation in political turmoil where obstacles ahead feel insurmountable. During times like these, this quote can have little relevance, as many Americans see so much wrong with their country, it can be difficult to rediscover what makes America right. In times when the country feels lost or off track, the American people can look back to the previous strengths of their nation, and the values that made their country “right” to begin with. The true strength of America lies in its original values which exist within American Literature dating back to the country’s founding,
As a young child I developed a strong sense of patriotism. Several of my family members have served in the military, and over the years I have been exposed to a great amount of love for this country. To me patriotism doesn’t only mean that you love your country, and that you appreciate the freedoms you have. Patriotism means that you take pride in your country. It is a strong sense of belief in the government, and in the people.