Patriot – ‘a person who vigorously supports their country and is prepared to defend it against enemies or detractors’
Patriotism is national pride, ‘the feeling of love, devotion, and sense of attachment to a homeland and alliance with other citizens who share the same sentiment. This attachment can be a combination of many different feelings relating to one’s own homeland, including ethnic, cultural, political, or historical aspects’
Patriotism was not as much of a positive thing when our country was founded. Patriots, as they came to be known, were members of the 13 British colonies who rebelled against British control during the American Revolution, supporting instead the U.S. Continental Congress. Loyalists were colonists who supported the crown/king of England. Patriots subjected Loyalists to public humiliation and violence after the war. Many Loyalists found their property vandalized, looted and burned. The patriots controlled public discourse. To be a patriot then was not what it means to be a patriot now.
I love my country, am proud of my country. I believe the United States is a symbol of strength and character, an example to the rest of the world. Like a child looks to their father, expects the best from him, I believe the world looks at my country. They expect the best from us, expect behavior that demonstrates the strength that comes from character. I believe that character should be demonstrated in many ways — compassion, honesty, fairness, loyalty, respect, morals, hard work. We are weak when we forget the importance of character.
Politics have replaced character in our country, in my opinion. It’s far too easy to point at our president as the example of the decline in character, the leader of the most powerful country in the world, a man who blatantly disrespects anyone who he views as an opponent, a selfish pig of a man who lets his own pride be his downfall. Just think of what he could have accomplished as president had he focused as hard on the character required of a president as he did on what he wanted to accomplish as president. He wanted to change things, fix things he felt a democratic presidency had screwed up, but his narcissism was the motivation. He wanted and wants to be viewed as the saviour he is not. I voted for Trump because I agreed that things needed to be changed — taxes, the federal healthcare marketplace, to name a few. Trump’s administration did resolve and began to fix those things. During the election four years ago, I winced at how Trump treated his republican opponents in the primary, was disgusted at the hate he threw at Hillary Clinton, was saddened at how he disrespected and even humiliated them. He attacked and continued to hack every political opponent from then until now. Honestly, if he had conquered himself, there is high likelihood he would have been reelected. Instead of maturing as a leader, he grew increasingly immature.
Trump was attacked as president. Democrats were just as ruthless, refused just as much to cooperate. Instead, they played political games and did everything they could to discredit and fight our president. Their character was just as reprehensive, just as foul. Because of that, our country’s character has been severely damaged by leadership that is considered more with politics than character. If that doesn’t change, and change soon, the USA will topple. If we don’t learn to quit burning those who disagree with us, don’t respect the beliefs of our fellow citizens, then we are in trouble. We will no longer have a country we can be proud of. We will no longer have a country worthy of our support. Patriotism as we know it will die.
Mister Trump, I will not miss you. Mister Biden, quit trying to win the political game and focus on bringing our country together. I didn’t see that today. Instead I heard you (and others) trying to take advantage of the situation politically, because that was what you focused on first. Stop it. Quit giving Trump and the people who follow his selfishness their day by thinking you have to fight with them. Ignore them. Do what you can to restore the character of the office you are about to accept. Bring dignity back.
I am a Christian. I am a republican. Please respect me when I disagree with you, because I will disagree with you. Don’t say I hate because I believe differently than you do. Admit it. That has been happening for years. Instead, treat me with the same respect that you expect from me. Allow me to have my own opinion. Don’t condenscend to me because of what I believe is moral or not moral. Let me object when I need to. I promise to do it with respect. I wish everyone would.
God bless the USA. God is in control. I trust that no matter what happens.