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What It Means to Love One's Country

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My View on What It Means to Love One’s Country

Patriotism, according to Merriam Webster, is defined as “devotion or love for one’s country.” I believe this definition does not capture the true essence of the meaning of patriotism. This definition would be outstanding if there were no other conditions factored in this complex equation, but it seems that patriotism is a double-edged sword. The word patriotism strikes a lot of mixed emotions in people all over the United States. Some people describe themselves as involved patriots because they fly their American flag outside in their yards, when others see the word patriotism as disgusting and the seed of racism. Patriotism has spread like wildfire throughout the nation. …show more content…

493). In other words, they tend to become close-minded toward other cultures. Patriotism to some people is a superstition that is artificially created and maintained through a network of lies and falsehoods, a superstition that robs a man of his self-respect and dignity, and increases his arrogance and conceit. One example of having increased arrogance is being wealthy. Parenti states “even if it were easy to become a multi-millionaire, what is so great about that? Why should one’s ability to make large sums of money be reason to love one’s country?” (p. 497) Patriotism to me means to have love for our homeland, our country, to support, serve and defend, to be inspired by, to change for the better and to care deeply for fellow Americans. Patriots support the country’s authorities, laws, and interests. However, this does not mean that Americans should agree with whatever the President of the United States has to say and be blinded by what is really going on in America. I believe that true
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patriotism does not have to be encouraged, but it is something that we feel. Patriotism is to be proud of where you are from, and to love everyone around you, whether he is a native of that country or not. As stated by Parenti, “what is there to love about the extermination of Native American nations?” (p. 495) Superpatriots believe that the patriotic individual is blinded by what government is telling us and that patriots will go along with any ideas the

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