Patriotism Essay (by: Sam Q)

Patriotism

As I think of WWll and the battle of Iwo Jima I think about what it means to be a patriot. What does it mean to be a patriot? Do you have to risk your life everyday in the hot sandy dunes of Iraq and Afghanistan every day? On a smaller scale do you have to risk your life being a police officer or a firefighter? You could, but the real definition of a Patriot is love and devotion to one's country. The word comes from the Greek word patris, meaning fatherland. Patriotism, however, has had different meanings over time, and its meaning is highly dependent upon context, geography, and philosophy. Patriotism still does matter. I feel bad for those who don’t feel that patriotism doesn’t matter its is what brought this country together from good time to bad we stuck together in what we call patriotism.

There are many people who are considered patriots including George Washington, Martin Luther King Junior, and the veterans of America’s bloodiest wars. The veterans of WWll were considered patriots. They fought so hard for the freedom of their country and the up rise of the Nazis in 1939. The veterans of WWll and even now the soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan risk their lives every day for the freedom of our country.

Does patriotism still matter? Yes patriotism does matter, and if patriotism didn’t matter, everybody would be committing crimes, wars would be going on everywhere and the world would be in mass chaos. Usually wars put the losing country in millions of dollars of debt but if it’s for the freedom of our country or taking down a group of people taking over the world it is okay. If the winning country is nice they will usually fuel the country with enough money to get them back on track with the economy.

From the Greek word patris meaning fatherland, to the meaning today, the devotion and love for ones country, patriots have always loved and will continue to love their country everyday of their lives. Patriotism still does matter.

LA Response

On a dark and cold night a man and a woman hear the sound of a wolf howling in the distance seconds before the midnight train pulls into the loading dock of the station. The next week will be the worst week of there lives. This couple is going to their son's funeral, their son is is John F. Kennedy. JFK was assassinated one week ago. This is one of the most saddest moments in the history of the United States.