Watch this entire piece if you haven’t seen it yet. Watch it in full screen, even. Many liberal Americans including myself tire often from trying to explain what is patriotism to no avail. People in America and all over the world just don’t get it. Obama, during the middle of his acceptance speech explains American patriotism.
Additionally, many forget that it was American patriots that fought tooth and nail for freedom and independence from the unfair and often brutal British dominance long ago. Black people are where they are today because of their independent fight for freedom. Women are where they are today because of their fight for freedom. The list goes on. We are a nation of people who (most of us, generally) realize what’s wrong, and are a nation of fighters. We are still far from being perfect, but we continue to fight – even if the odds are against us – even though our Electoral Voting System is corrupt and unfair – even if we’re called “unAmerican” in the process, and even if the Anti-Americans STILL mindlessly lump us in with the “Uncouth Americans”. A true American never gives up. Why? Because we’re proud to be an American. It’s okay to be ashamed to be an American when things are rough, so long as we pick ourselves off the ground, kick the sand behind us and and continue to fight for what is right.
As you can see, none of these people I mention above fled north of America because “they felt persecuted”. They stayed to CHANGE it. This is what being American is all about. What’s broken? Let’s join together and FIX it.
You can’t do that if you don’t vote. You can’t do that unless you put your foot down and say, “no more”.
My own personal definition of what it means to be patriotic:
Most Anti-Americans will tell you that Patriotism is defined as unconditionally accepting its leader and every crooked thing that a government may do. But I beg to differ. Patriotism for me is being able to say that you’re proud of where you were born and have the willingness to defend your country from verbal slander or violent attacks. True Patriotism also believes in free speech in that if we disagree with what our government is doing, we will question it. Patriots don’t always approve blindly of every decision made by our administration. Patriotism also believes that you can be a progressive-minded liberal and still be a patriot. Patriotism is ALWAYS optimistic, believes in change, and sees room for improvement when needed. If Patriotism doesn’t speak up and try to make changes, then our ancestors that died for this freedom, died for nothing.
OBAMA / BIDEN 2008
And last but not least, eight IS enough.
hear hear.
America was founded on conscious dissent.
Interesting video.