Patriotism. It is a word that invokes great emotion from many people, but what does it actually mean? Some simply think that patriotism is supporting the government of a particular country. I would suggest that this is not the case at all and that patriotism runs far deeper than that. Patriotism is a commitment to uphold and promote a certain set of principles, not just the wishes of those currently in power. A patriot’s commitment must be anchored in something transcendent of the ruling party, or you end up with the “fair weather patriots” that Thomas Paine wrote about.
The founding fathers of the United States were so committed to promoting the principles of life, liberty, and property that they were willing to give everything they had, even their lives, for the cause of those principles. As modern day patriots let’s work to preserve the torch of freedom that was passed down to us by our founding fathers!
Being a patriot is not simply one dramatic “last words” moment from a Mel Gibson movie. Patriotism is constantly living for your principles, teaching them to others, and, when necessary, giving everything for what is right.
