The recent terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon have caused confusion on the topic of patriotism. The best way to start understanding patriotism is to simply define it. Patriotism is a person’s level of loyalty toward their country. Displays of true patriotism are prominent in times of despair, such as wars and terrorist attacks. However, many people have discrepancies on what displays of patriotism really are. Some people believe that showing patriotism can be accomplished by waving the flag and singing the national anthem. Others believe that a person must be much more involved in a cause to show patriotism. It is true that waving a flag doesn’t accomplish much. Although this action displays good intentions, it …show more content…
But different men often see the same subject in different lights” (Henry, 88). The people that believe they have done enough by waving a flag and singing the national anthem have failed to form their own opinions of patriotism. If the United States has a government controlled by the people, then the strength of the country depends on the level of loyalty among the people. So by performing only the easiest tasks to show support for the country, these people are causing the country to become less powerful. Basing a country on laziness could be paralleled to basing a document on lies.
Finally, the most obvious fault on the side that claims waving a flag is patriotism is the fact that very few people actually did this before the terrorist attacks. This so called patriotism transformed from a dormant state into a state of overabundance in only a few days time. This observation alone is evidence of the invalidity of waving a flag and singing the national anthem. Additionally, some people have enough disrespect for our country to take advantage of fellow citizens during this time of confusion by selling cheap American flags at twenty dollars each. These people are playing jump rope with the line between patriotism and treason as if patriotism isn’t a serious subject. Sadly, the people who failed to realize their own false patriotism were also the ones being scammed by companies.
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One of the things the United States is known for best is its rampant patriotism. Whether its 1930 or the present day, one thing remains the same Americans love their country. During special periods of time however, events happen that make Americas already fiery patriotism burn brighter. Many years ago during the period of time known as the “Red Scare” the United States mistrust of all things communist and anarchist led to very nationalistic feelings among the populace. After the 2001 9/11 terrorist attacks the country the country was left shaken. The fear of terrorist made the American rally behind their military and country even more than before.
Public consensus, similar to politics, varies greatly when it comes to American history, especially as it pertains to the classroom. Views about the content and historical interpretation included in history texts have reached a heightened polarization in recent years. This can be seen in the vast differences between the diatribes of Howard Zinn’s, A People’s History of the United States, and Larry Schweikart and Michael Allen’s, A Patriot’s History of the United States. While both books, prescribed by this introductory course into American History, cover many of the same topics, they clearly paint different pictures. I feel that any text seeking to represent a responsible survey of a
Humankind would be a better place if we were all just citizens of the world. In Martha Nussbaum’s “Patriotism and Cosmopolitanism” she argues whether children should be taught in education to be patriotic or cosmopolitan. Nussbaum’s definition of cosmopolitanism is a person whose primary allegiance is to the community of human beings in the entire world. Nussbaum begins her argument by raising questions about education and how students ought to be taught that hunger in third world countries are problems of global problems and not the countries problem. She says “We should regard out deliberations as, first and foremost, deliberations about human problems of people in particular concrete situations, not problems growing out of a national
Jensen presents two alternative definitions of patriotism in his speech. The first one suggests that patriotism is to
All Americans should find their opinion on patriotism and voice that opinion. There are many different views of patriotism and many will clash, but if we continue to talk and use our minds instead of our fists or guns, we can eventually come to a compromise of both ideas, which will best represent everyone’s opinions on patriotism. Through more clearly and fairly defined ideas of patriotism we can better understand the actions of our fellow Americans and avoid more unnecessary conflicts caused by extremist ideas being the only ideas heard.
The football season is here and that means so is fantasy football. Here are the players who should start, sit and are risks, but can make an enormous impact in any given game.
When I was younger I felt like I knew what it meant to be patriotic in America, but as times change I feel like I have no clue what it means to be patriotic in America today. I believe I had a grasp on what it means to be patriotic because, I had grown up in Gallup New Mexico-known to be the most patriotic town in The United States of America. Then Earlier in my life I also had to deal with my brother, who went into a recruiter's office and signed up to be shipped off to Afghanistan the very next day. When he would visit he would have these lectures on how we should show our patriotism. He would eventually force my mother to put up the American flag in the front porch to show respect for the country and those who served it. As I got older
What is the definition of patriotism for America? This question can be answered in various ways, but is not always focused upon in daily life. Spanning from Colonial America up until today, this answer has fluctuated due to the happenings within the country. Although separated by time, many previous beliefs reflect similarly upon more modern occasions. Patrick Henry’s Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death speech provides ideas that can easily transpose to current events in present day America. In his speech, there is the one overruling idea, that of patriotism, and a few supporting points, such as individual liberty and interpretation of freedom.
The dictionary definition of patriotism is “An emotional attachment to a nation which an individual recognizes as their homeland. This attachment, also known as national feeling or national pride, can be viewed in terms of different features relating to one's own nation, including ethnic, cultural, political or historical aspects.” In other word being a patriot means to be proud of the nation and to value and fight for what it’s beliefs are. Though this word does not just pertain to Americans it can be relevant to anyone with extreme pride in their country or ethnicity. The south more than likely has the most people with national pride than the rest of the country. Even though a lot of them like to fly the confederate flag in their
In 1776, the colonists America decided that Britain was ruling unfairly, and that they could do a better job, but have you ever thought that you could do a better job than the modern day government? If The United States of America were to divide, I would be a “Patriot”, as in I would want them to divide. While I do currently like how this country is, I also do not like somethings about this country. The reasoning for which I would be a “Patriot” is because I would want to create a smaller country, to not take foreign affairs repercussions from the current government, to change how laws are put into place and to restructure the education system. The first reason of why I would be a “Patriot” is because I would want to create a smaller country.
Examining America as a country it is evident that it was founded on a devoted love, a love for freedom and the rights that are bestowed upon every American at the time of their birth. The men who founded this country believed that they along with future generations deserved a sanctuary. America’s forefathers created an entirely new concept, changing the world by fabricating a haven for freedoms. The love for this country is ever-present in the writings and actions of all the great men who risked their lives to cultivate their dreams.
The United States is presently at war in Iraq and Afghanistan where American troops are fighting and dying. At home, cars and homes display solid yellow or red, white, and blue ribbons that call for Americans to “Support Our Troops.” It is patriotic for Americans to support their daughters and sons fighting in a war, but this patriotism does not mean that Americans must blindly support the decision to go to war. Being patriotic means that Americans must do the opposite: they must question their government. Questioning the government, voting, and respecting the rights of others are what makes true patriots in a democratic society; blind following of one’s government creates dictatorships.
After the terrorists had stabbed the pilot and a flight attendant, the passengers were told that a bomb was on board and the plane was heading back to the airport. Beginning at 9:30 a.m., several passengers made phone calls to their loved
Places, muniments and landscapes all influence individuals emotions and culture due to the meaning or symbolism that has been put upon a certain place. Patriotism is an avid devotion where individuals and communities show belief in their country through involvement, tradition, monuments and rituals. Patriotism in Canada is amongst the highest and most evident throughout all provinces and territories due to large involvement in patriotic organizations and traditions. The Canadian landscape reflects the idea of patriotism in a variety of ways from monuments, historical features and traditions.
American history usually starts with Columbus and the famous myths surrounding the “founding” of the New World. As children we learn about how Columbus fought against all odds to convince the king and queen of Spain to fund his voyage to prove the world was not flat. As we grow in our understanding of history we find that most of the world, at that time, already knew the world was round. So why do we believe in these myths? We believe in these types of myths because they make the central character or characters appear larger than life, much like a Hollywood blockbuster. In the 2000 film the Patriot, directed by Ronald Emmerich, and distributed by Columbia Pictures; we follow the story of American Revolution as seen through the eyes of a