Author's Note: This is an essay for the Veterans Essay Contest of this year. The prompt was "Does Patriotism Still Matter?". I tried to answer as honestly and accurately as I could.
Patriotism. People may hear the word, but not know what it means. They assume it has something to do with our country, but they never know exactly what it entails. Patriotism, by definition, is one's love for their country. A love that exists for no other reason besides living in it, but yet is strong enough to take on an army. Patriotism is ageless and will never die.
Some may ask if patriotism still matters after all these years our great America has been alive. To them I reply, what would the world be like without patriotism? What would people be like without it? Patriotism has been extremely important throughout American history. It has given us the strength and determination to stand up for our country, fight battles for it, and win wars in order to gain its freedom. Taking that away would be like taking away the spirit of all Americans. We would be nothing but borders, roads, and buildings, without any real meaning.
While the thought of destroying the spirit of America might scare some people, some simply may stand by and let it happen. People are afraid and ashamed of being laughed at for being avid supporters of our country, and for good reason. Patriotism is slowly dwindling into nothingness, and soon it may be gone altogether. We need to work to keep our country's patriotism alive by showing our love for America in various ways.
But what can the public do that we aren't already doing? When everyone thinks of serving the country, they envision soldiers or a military profession. However, there are many smaller ways to make a difference. One way to help would be to volunteer for a good cause. Showing love for the people in the country is just the same as showing love for the country in general. If everyone helps out, we can make the United States great again.
Considering all the ways to show love for our country, the answer to the question "Does patriotism still matter?" is an easy 'yes'. Patriots are extremely important to the welfare of this country and will be for as long as America is around. Patriotism is the spirit of the United States of America and will never die.
No comments:
Post a Comment