The Sheila Variations

Patriotism

An inspiring and cut-through-the-nonsense post from Jeff Jarvis, about patriotism. Patriotism transcends politics, labels, affiliations.

September 11 changed me. As it changed all of us.

Do not get me wrong: I have "felt" like an American before. Every time I vote, every time, I take a moment to thank God I live in a country where I can do this. Even before September 11. I remember the bicentennial celebrations, when I was a kid. I remember being very proud of our country, and overwhelmed with pride at the onslaught of red, white, and blue at that time. I was brought up by two parents who were HIGHLY into the American Revolutionary war, so I grew up with a reverence for those times, for the founding fathers, for how it all happened. I knew the story. I loved the story.

But on September 11, I became an American.

I am an American before I am anything else.

Jeff Jarvis writes, eloquently:

Patriotism is much bigger than politics. And the definition of patriotism is no longer in the hands of the politicians and pundits. After 9.11, it is in our hands, for we are all Americans and we are all targets on this new battlefield. We know what it means to be patriotic and it has very little to do with partisanship or politics. We know the price of patriotism.

Patriotism means defending the principles of America over politics. Patriotism means being willing to protect those principles where and when its necessary. Patriotism means defending your children and your neighbors against those who would attack us because we are American. Patriotism means being willing to go it alone even when your former friends (read: Europeans) snipe at you. Try that on as a new definition.

Posted by sheila