Patriotism is not blindly following ones country as some politicians think. Patriotism is working to ensure our country lives up to our collective moral and ethical values both at home and abroad, as well as being critical of our country when it does not live up to those standards. Patriotism as defined by the Oxford English Dictionary is “The quality of being patriotic; love of or devotion to one's country” (“Patriotism”). That is it. It does not say you have to take any specific action like flying the flag, serve in any function such as the armed forces, or support any particular party for election. However, devotion is usually manifested in some type of behavior. In fact, the definition is open to interpretation and subjective at best. A patriot believes that the United States has the best system of government in the world today and espouse those views, even when it’ policies, foreign or domestic, at times, are wrong. Two of those ideals are speaking up and rebelling when the government exceeds its boundaries. Naturally, a patriot will speak out when he or she feels that the country is wrong and work to change those wrongs. When the country does not live up to their expectations, a patriot will petition legislators to make new laws or modify current laws to change those conditions. For example in 1870 during the Indian wars the United States Army massacred 200 Piegan Blackfeet Indians mostly women and children. The massacre outrage a few patriotic citizens back east who dared to speak out and the result was the rise up of a peace policy towards the Indians and a reversal of the United States extermination policy. A recent one is the Keystone pipeline controversy. After a State Department, report raising no key environmental con... ... middle of paper ... ...is very little you can do to protest your governments polices other than voting. Part of that solution is voting. Many protestors, both left and right, democrat, republican, socialist, etc. have had their patriotism called into question at one time or another. For example in 2008 then Senator Obama called President Bush’s patriotism into question when he raised the national debt, and the favor was returned when President Obama increased the national debt in his presidency. The reality is that both are patriots. Citizens show their patriotism in many different ways, but they all have certain traits in common. They work to better our government and the international community to reflect our country’s collective views on our every changing moral and ethical values. Works Cited “Patriotism” Oxford English Dictionary. Oxford University Press, 2014. Web. 23 Jan. 2014.
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.
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
In the article, “Colin Kaepernick and the Question of Who Gets to Be Called a ‘Patriot’”, Wesley Morris focuses on the issue of whether or not Colin Kaepernick’s decision to kneel during the national anthem at football games is disrespectful and unpatriotic. Morris claims that “Patriotism is the cornerstone of football”, while also addressing the tendency Americans have to shift the blame somewhere else. Morris is able to identify other examples of how patriotism can be viewed in different perspectives and how people that have access to large platforms can use their status to shed light on topics that may have been swept under the rug.
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.
Whenever an author is creating an argument, they must appeal to whatever grabs his or her selected audience’s attention.When given the topic of Michael Fay, an 18 year old American citizen who was punished in Singapore for vandalism by being caned, two sources appealed to their audience in two contrasting ways. In “Time to Assert American Values,” published by The New York Times, the author tries to capture his or her audience by stirring up emotion. In “Rough Justice: A Caning in Singapore Stirs up a Fierce Debate about Crime and Punishment,” Alejandro Reyes presents factual evidence throughout the entire article to support his claims. After carefully analyzing both texts, it is apparent that Alejandro Reyes gives a more convincing and sufficient
Americans are a group of people living in the United States of America who will do everything in their power to prove their allegiance, and show the pride in which they have for their country and being an American. In the article Veterans Day: Never Forget Their Duty by John McCain, McCain talks about a friend of his who was a prisoner at war with McCain himself. McCain explains how his friend was beaten because the guards of the prison found his American Flag he had sewn to his shirt, so they beat him. In the article McCain states “Sitting
As a result of the war, America felt a new patriotism. As the wealth of the country increased the people were inclined to celebrate their success. They also celebrated having a much easier life than in comparison to the hardship and compromises of the war years. This was evident in the products that were designed to save Americans time and effort. There was advertising particularly aimed at women in the home household products. The consumerist beliefs were perpetuated by the mass media, radio, television, cinema and print media. Household objects and celebrities faces were the way to sell these products. Art became visible to greater sections of the population and to lower classes. Because of its positioning, images were seen in conjunction with advertising and printed on clothing and acce...
PATRIOTISM OR HATE-RIOTISM? Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “True patriotism springs from a belief in the dignity of the individual, freedom and equality not only for Americans but for all people on earth, universal brotherhood and good will, and a constant and earnest striving toward the principles and ideals on which this country was founded.” Growing up in one of the most patriotic countries in the world, The United States of America, patriotism is everywhere. Patriotism is defined as devoted love, support, and defense of one's country; national loyalty. Whether it’s expressed through hanging the U.S flag outside one’s house, a bumper sticker on the back of a car, supporting one of the many sports teams with the American colors, or even serving in the military.
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).
... people have an absolute right to voice their opinions and protest as long as it is done without trampling upon the legal rights of others. However, when any one, or group, attempts to violate the legal rights of others the government not only has the duty but has the Constitutional responsibility to intervene
There are times throughout the history of the United States when its citizens have felt the need to revolt against the government. There were such cases during the time of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Henry David Thoreau, when there was unfair discrimination against the Afro-American community and Americans refusing to pay poll taxes to support the Mexican War. They used civil disobedience to eventually get legislation to stop the injustice brought against them and their nation. Civil disobedience is defined as refusal to obey civil laws or decrees, which usually takes the form of passive resistance. People practicing civil disobedience break a law because they consider the law unjust, and want to call attention to its injustice, hoping to bring about its withdrawal.
... who are eligible of voting should get out there and vote. We fought to expand suffrage, and now we must show the government we are capable of voting.
When the United States of America was first formed, its citizens had many new rights and freedoms that they did not have in their motherland. Today; however, citizens of the United States do not share as many rights as the first immigrants had. A freedom that individuals think has been stripped away from them is the freedom to protest. This freedom has been restricted over time by the government who has set many rules and regulations on protesting laws. However, in society today, many wonder whether or not these restrictions are justified or if they break the constitutional rights of being an American.
Beginning with America, there is a strong sense of nationalism. Being called patriotic would signify you support America and the ideals the flag stands for. It has many meanings to every individual, either learned through school or something they may have had happen and symbolize it with the flag. For instance, after September 11 happened, people talked to more strangers, donated large amounts of money to relief organizations or even signed up as firefighters. This is a great boon for a country when something devastating can happen and the people ban together to help each other out, but every coin has two sides. Many convenience store clerks where murdered because of their descent. Ignorant patriotism perpetuated when individuals thought they would kill “terrorists” because they were Muslim. The notion that every Muslim is a terrorist may be outrageous on its own, but those who aren’t Muslim even got murdered. It was based off skin color. It made those that weren’t Muslim, but appeared to be, to wear badges on their shirts, and every other article of clothing or accessory they have claiming they are an American Sikh. Even displaying flags in their windows to help symbolize the...
As recited by former Governor of Minnesota, “There is much more to being a patriot and a citizen than reciting the pledge or raising a flag”. To pledge allegiance to the flag means to take a patriotic vow, that you will do everything in your power to fight to protect and keep the freedoms that you have been blessed with, safe. I believe that if you pledge allegiance to the