What Does Patriotism Mean In 2021?

Suwanee GA

06 August, 2021

4:38 AM

Description

The word patriotism means having an unabashed sense of love for one’s country. This love is reserved for their homeland, its ways, and its people. For so many people around the country, being referred to as patriotic is as American as it gets. It is a matter of immense honor for them. The word patriot has instilled a sense of pride in Americans for as long as one can remember. Patriotism brings with it an elevated level of respect and pride. It puts them on the same pedestal as the founders of the country, who are recognized as the original patriots. Patriotism Gives Birth to Unity Patriotism is supposed to bring with it happiness, joy, and the emotion of unity that binds us all together. However, throughout history, the sentiment of patriotism has also managed to divide us into groups while excluding so many others who are just as Americans as anyone else. The Negativity Associated with Patriotism In recent times, particularly this year, extremists and political theorists, including those who stormed the Capitol during riots in January. These are people who have permanently attached the word patriot to themselves in order to describe themselves as true Americans. A majority of this group of extremists are white people who think everyone else who doesn’t look like them is below them in every sense of the word. These are people who have bastardized the whole idea of patriotism. These people feel that those who aren’t patriotic, which means they don’t support every wrong and right their country does, are against the United States of America and everything their country stands for, making them the enemy. Unfortunately, all of that extremism takes place in the name of loyalty and patriotism towards one’s country and sometimes leads to dire situations and life and death consequences. At the same time, patriotism is still used in everyday affairs and pop culture to describe and talk about America’s heroes and exemplary people. In an ironic sense of things, these people were fighting against people they don’t consider to be Americans. Concluding Lines The entire idea of patriotism has been talked about and heavily discussed over the years. But the debate around it has gathered considerable momentum in the current political scenario in which Americans passionately exercise their right to protest, riot, and criticize leaders in the White House that they disapprove of. Two-thirds of Americans are of the opinion that peaceful vigils and protests against police brutality are patriotic. Then there’s a percentage of the population that favors protests for racial equality and those who agree that criticizing the elected officials, including the presidents, is another sign of patriotism. The whole idea of patriotism was flipped on its head in the days leading up to the election this year and then some more. People refused to see the faults in their ways or the choices they were making just because their preferred candidate was being impeached and ousted from office, They caused a situation of utter havoc across the country. Some would say we are still dealing with the after-effects of those days. Another challenge that redefined patriotism was the cases of racial attacks and brutality at the hands of people. The extremists supported the police because they saw it as a way of getting their country back from people who didn’t belong there. All of that is enough to give you a different perspective of patriotism and evaluate the situation in front of you. Patriotism is about bringing people together instead of dividing them to the extent that pushes them away. At the end of the day, patriotism is about being united.