posted on October 20, 2001 03:46:20 PM new
Too many good answers above to add too much.
But on the question, "How do you express it in your life?"
On a very personal level, I express my patriotism by attempting to teach my child just how fortunate he is to live here in America. I've attempted to teach him that when our government does things we don't like or agree with, that we should lobby to change the things. I've taken him on many trips to lobby for changes and he has sat in on many state and local government meetings. So I guess the bottom line is that I expess patriotism in my life by teaching my son patriotism in his. Jess
posted on October 20, 2001 04:06:46 PM new
I suppose I would define my love of my country as an extension of my love of my family...with all that that implies.
posted on October 20, 2001 04:52:25 PM new
You guys are really great, do you know that? From this heretofore inconceivable idea of Mybiddness's:
"Until the terrorist attacks I had never given a lot of thought as to whether I would personally be willing to put myself in harms way to defend this country."
" After much thought, I'm sure that I would have no problem whatsoever putting my own life on the line for the USA ..."
To this sublime sentence from Toke:
"I suppose I would define my love of my country as an extension of my love of my family...with all that that implies."
To Deliteful's intent to further patriotism down through generations "by attempting to teach my child just how fortunate he is to live here in America."
And where this thread might go next takes up a particular passage written by BiddyBug:
"I will sacrifice for this country...we all will. It is our responsibility to make sure that these sacrifices serve to make America a better place."
A better place. I often wonder if *my* version of a better place would resemble visions held by other of my fellow citizens. The most trite example I can come up with at the moment (and I'm doing so on purpose) is the fact that I can't stand to be stuck in traffic alongside a car that is bass-booming rap music at 100 or more decibels. More than once I've wondered why the initial introduction of these over-the-top car stereos didn't violate the "public nuisance" or "disturbing the peace" laws.
As I said, I'm heading toward a more broad discussion of the point BiddyBug raised, and I'm starting out on a personal-annoyance level because I first want to hear what you all think it means to make America a better place. (That and, I don't want the thread locked just yet, heh... ) And thank you, btw, BiddyBug, for providing a natural progression for our ideas/expressions of patriotism, because ultimately -- as Americans -- we need to have a somewhat unified idea and goal for our country and its people without demanding that everyone march to the same beat...
