Essay on Patriotism

My Feelings About Patriotism

Patriotism is the divine feeling of love for your country and the willingness to sacrifice yourself to better it. “Whenever they feel a collective threat, that feeling of patriotism re-emerges and is revived.” ~Saad Eddin Ibrahim. Patriotism is the way you can defend your country against harm, like if you are in the military. Although, patriotism is not just for the military, it applies to every citizen regardless of what job they do.
When you live in a country, you have a responsibility to that country. That is one of the many ideals patriotism stands for — responsibility. Citizens have a responsibility to be patriotic to the country they live in. This can be done in a variety of ways. You could be in the military, serve in a government position, fight injustice as a judge, or work in a law enforcement career.
We are very patriotic in my family. My grandfather served in the Korean War, my cousin Bethany fought as a Marine in Afghanistan and Iraq, and my other cousin Adam is serving in the U.S. Navy and is currently stationed on a ship in Japan. Also, my uncle served as a U.S. Marshal for the state of Maine. As you can see, patriotism is really important in my family, and we believe in it strongly.
You can be patriotic even if you don’t choose to follow a career that betters the country you live in and love so much. For example, every time you say the Pledge of Allegiance, you are being patriotic. You are being patriotic when you listen to the National Anthem at sports games. When you vote you are contributing to your country, and are therefore being patriotic. Although, you can be patriotic if you simply choose not to harm your country.
The foundation of patriotism is not written in any law, but rather is in the heart of every individual. As Henry James has said, “I think patriotism is like charity — it begins at home.” What he said is true, patriotism does begin at home. Therefore, it is the responsibility of every parent to instruct their children in the ways and responsibilities of patriotism. However, not every parent will care enough about the feeling of patriotism to teach their children about it. In the end it’s up to every individual whether they will allow that feeling of patriotism emerge.