"What being an American" means to me (PATRIOTIC WRITE-OFF)Oct 11 '01 Write an essay on this topic.
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The Bottom Line Patriotism is something you feel.
One month ago today...our country seemed more innocent, more trusting. Something inside each one of us died a little, the way it did when JFK was shot in 1963. ...Something that I feel has to do with Patriotism. I've been thinking about this topic a lot lately, as I'm sure many of us have...with all the events surrounding us lately. It's hard to sum up in just a few words...I hope you'll agree. To me PATRIOTISM is being proud of one's country. As an American, born and raised in the “Heartland” (as John Cougar Mellencamp calls it!), United States of America, I feel very proud to be a citizen of this country, even more so then ever. People have united more than ever, displaying their flags, donating money & blood, standing together, supporting our country’s leaders and those who continue to work in NYC. Maybe we are a little less materialistic now, at least for the time being, realizing that life and freedom are more important than anything else! In one sense it seems a shame that it has to come to this to feel solidarity for our country, but on the other hand, our sense of PATRIOTISM for our country was there all along, it was just below the surface. Maybe I’m still a bit naïve or idealistic, even at my age, but to me, being an American (and I’m going to get a little "corny" here) includes, but is not limited to, the following: Mom's homemade apple pie, or even A&P frozen apple pie(!), Big Mac hamburgers and fries, John Wayne movies, backyard barbecues on the 4th of July (and watching fireworks too!), credit cards, re-financing your home loan, walking on the beach or through the woods, dancing, skiing, swimming in a lake or the Atlantic or Pacific Ocean, or at the YMCA, singing, riding your bike, hippies, beatniks, yuppies, teachers, nurses-aides, or welders or those who volunteer. It’s gathering with friends and relatives during holidays, speaking out on what we believe in, writing a letter to your editor, worshipping as we believe, all of the things that are so fundamental to freedom! These are the things that were written down over 200 years ago in our Declaration of Independence by our forefathers and these are the things that still stand true! Patriotism also means really listening to the words of the “Star Spangled Banner” or “America the Beautiful” and maybe even getting goose bumps while you are listening! It’s treating each one of our fellow human beings with respect and being treated with respect in return. Being an American means complaining about how high our taxes are, how expensive health care is, our country's leaders, present and past, poking fun at ourselves, TV sitcoms, Elvis, hotrods, the ever increasing/decreasing gasoline prices, California's rolling blackouts, Florida's voting system, and our overcrowded prisons. ...Our sense of humor gets us though so much of what happens in life...and...our sense of hope and spirit of determination! Hey! ...what about baseball, football, golf, and of course, basketball! Veterans Day, Memorial Day, 4th of July! Stopping to give thanks on those days, even if just for a minute, to those who gave their lives for our freedom, which we so often take for granted! My husband has done some work with retired disabled Vets. This group of men, now in their late 70's and 80's are now dying at the rate of 100 a day. These are the same men, who have been "portrayed" in so many films, most recently in: "Saving Private Ryan" the brave and the scared young men, barely out of their teens, storming Omaha Beach on D-Day that our generation sometimes tends to forget about, because we find it tough to relate to old men. Yes, they are old men now, but they too believed in the American way...as did so many generations before us, be it ugly, selfish, or loud, ...we are all those things and more, but we are also kind, sincere, and proud! I have many friends and acquaintances who are ‘naturalized citizens’ ...meaning, they were born in another country, but emigrated here to the USA at one time or another to live and make a life for themselves and their families, as our great-great grandparents did so many generations ago. They saw America as the great, “Land of Opportunity”. They thought enough of this country to make it their home. They took the time to study and learn about this country and it's great history, to take the exam and to raise their right hand and swear to be good citizens of the United States of America! There is a lot that is wrong with this country, but there is so much that is right too. We have come through many wars, and witnessed man's inhumanity to man. There will always be critics and those who think they can do or make things better…and maybe they could! But I love this country for all it is, good and bad and although I have enjoyed my travels to foreign lands, it is always a great feeling to come “home.” I remember an old Linda Ronstadt song (originally by Chuck Berry) that summed it all up for me: “Back in the USA”. I heard it on a plane flying back to California back in the late 70’s and I felt so happy to be coming home and I know hearing it again brought a big smile to my face. Some of the words are the following: “Oh well, oh well, I feel so good today! We just touched ground on an international runway New York, Los Angeles oh how I yearn for you. Detroit, Chicago… …’til I’m back in old St. Lou folks of California to the shores of the Delaware Bay I’m so glad I’m living in the USA Anything you want, they got it right here in the USA!” Another good ol’ American song is by Huey Lewis and the News, “The Heart of Rock N’ Roll is the Beat”! “…New York, New York, where else can you do a half a million things all at a quarter to three? …LA, Hollywood and the Sunset Strip…it’s something everyone should see… DC, San Anton, and The Liberty Town, Boston and Baton Rouge Tulsa, Austin, Oklahoma City, Seattle, San Francisco too…everywhere there’s music… …in Cleveland…Detroit… heart of rock n roll…” I know I've jumped around here a bit (Ok, a lot!) but being and feeling patriotic means so many things to me, it's a tough one to put into one category, so to speak! This write-off, hosted by my son, Randall, (Pffrdfdus7) includes the following excellent group of reviewers: Please read what they have to say about being Patriotic and what it means to them! Long live America! This is dedicated to those whose lives were so tragically lost on September 11, 2001…”lest we forget…” Pffrdfdus7 pj_the_pug mike.holmes ChromeKiller pmills1210 Lisa_J artbyjude Also, if you did not already know, I am passing this along: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ On Thursday, October 11th, 2001, (TODAY) have everyone in the USA who will be driving a motor vehicle that day, drive with their headlights on during daylight hours. Get the word out all across this great land we love and call the United States of America. Let's see how powerful e-mail can be! This will be the 30th day commemoration in honor of our fallen friends desecrated by the terrorists' attacks on NYC, the Pentagon, and the highjacked plane that crashed in PA. The purpose of driving with headlights on this day will: 1). Show our respect, friendship, and tribute to all of those individuals who lost their lives on that dreadful September 11, 2001 day. 2). Show our concern for the family members of those individuals. 3). Show those uncouth terrorists that the fabric of the USA is stronger than steel. 4). Show that we Americans have solidarity standing shoulder to shoulder against any terrorists' acts upon the USA. You can probably add others to this list. Many thanks to you.  |
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