Divided we Fall
I believe that patriotism is dying. Due to the war in Iraq, the people in this country have lost their patriotic spirit and that is not fair to the soldiers over in Iraq. As a Poole for the United States Marine Corps, patriotism is what drives me. When a soldier gives the ultimate sacrifice for his country, he is brought home and given a ceremonial funeral, and at these funerals are protesters. These people are protesting the war at the funeral of a soldier that just died fighting for that war. They say they are being patriotic because they are using their freedom of peaceful assembly, but in the face of terror and murder the call for peace is not patriotic, it’s cowardice. This war, although it may not be right, should be supported. That’s what patriotism is, believing in your country.
Some Americans say that all wars are wrong and that we need world peace. If you really think about it, war has ended Nazism, Fascism, Communism, slavery, and has given us our rights and freedoms. War is sometimes a necessary evil and whether the war our country is in is necessary or not, the war and our troops need to be supported. That’s what patriotism is, believing in your country, and that’s what our country is lacking. These men and women are fighting and dying for our rights and some Americans don’t even support them. As a member of the military, I have realized that when someone comes up to you and thanks you for what you are doing it gives you the greatest feeling in the world.
Patriotism is what keeps our country moving; without people who joined the military we wouldn’t have our freedoms or our rights. There is a saying in the Marine Corps “If you can read thank a teacher. If you can read in English thank a Marine.” As I am in the process of becoming a Marine, it makes me realize how much we owe our thanks to those defending our freedom, without them we would have nothing. Patriotism is also what brings our country together and makes us stronger. Right after the 9/11 attacks, our country came together in unity to stand up, and show the world that we won’t curl up and die. We showed patriotism, and it made us stronger. Out of all the lost and sorrow, we found strength and unity through patriotism. This is America, land of the free because of the brave. This is my country, our country, so either love it or leave it.
