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Are you patriotic?
Published 11:24am Friday, May 8, 2009This is not to question anyone’s patriotism, but rather to better understand what it means to be patriotic. If I am patriotic how does that affect the way I live? Am I more respectful of people in uniform? Does that just mean US military personnel? Does it include police, fire, emergency and rescue personnel? What about the uniform of health care workers?
Is patriotism expressed by eating cookies? Its not that we really like Girl Scout thin mint cookies or peanut butter sandwich cookies, but rather we’re being patriotic and respectful of the girls in their green uniforms. Cub scouts wear blue uniforms and scarves once in a while. Does that gain them more respect and inspire our patriotism?
A Google search on uniforms shows that Girl Scouts don’t actually wear uniforms any more; they wear a combination of vests, sashes, shirts and even hoodies. Just as the Girl Scout uniform has changed over time our concept of patriotism may have taken different form.
Most of our veterans no longer wear their military uniform. Are they less patriotic than when they were on active duty and wore their US military branch uniform? We would probably agree that they may be just as patriotic when they are civilians. Patriotism can be expressed as something visible and tangible, but more often it is something internal. We have a feeling of respect and caring for that about which we are patriotic.
The Merriam-Webster dictionary tells us that a patriot is “one who loves his or her country.” If you are patriotic, you are loyal to your country. This may be shown in almost as many ways as there are citizens of this country. One person may demonstrate their loyalty by planting a tree, another by attending the meeting of a veteran’s service organization and another by attending a political caucus.
Loyalty is usually demonstrated in a respectful and concerned way. Join us in being patriotic over the next few months of patriotic celebrations and holidays by visiting our veterans. Shake their hand and thank them for being loyal to their country!
Greg Hayek is the Chaplain of the Minnesota Veterans Home-Fergus Falls.
