More on Patriotism

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This is a continuation of an earlier post about patriotism and being an American.

Appreciation of our freedoms

Patriotism, to me, is the appreciation of the freedoms and opportunities that our country provides. More than that, it is the understanding of why we have these freedoms and opportunities. It is more than just luck or being in the right place at the right time. It began with the wisdom of our founding fathers. They understood how government works and the weaknesses of human nature and they created a system to put the citizen in charge.

Manifestations

The result is a can do spirit and a belief that an individual can make a difference. American’s have used that spirit to intervene in international affairs with good intentions to share the blessings of freedom with residents of other countries. These interventions have been all over the map in results and appreciation but they stem from a commitment to sharing our freedoms with those who are oppressed.

We are also welcoming. As a nation of immigrants, we are proud of the national heritages we come from and the cultures they represent. They each contribute to the American culture that continues to develop and grow. We are forward looking and optimistic. We have been challenged in the past and triumphed. We are confident that we will do so again.

Threats

The success that we have achieved in the past opens us to a future threat. If we forget what made us great and take our current success and economic strength for granted, we risk losing all. Economic strength can fail. All great powers decline. America’s power comes from the energy and resilience of a free people.

Promise

Each test of America has been met with sacrifice and resolve by it’s people who renew and regenerate the wisdom of the founding fathers. So far, with each challenge, we have turned away from the temptation to take the easy route and live off the sacrifices made by those who came before us. I don’t believe that we are ready to do it now. I believe, like Ronald Reagan that :

“While I take inspiration from the past, like most Americans, I live for the future.”

This is what will continue to make America strong and lead the world to greater freedom and prosperity.