FROM MY POINT OF VIEW: AMERICAN PATRIOTISM
BY CRISTIE REMMEL
America was founded on the basis of freedom even though in the very beginning freedom was only an idea. People who have witnessed injustices have had to advocate and speak out in order to make change happen. In today’s world, everything is out of sync. Our elected officials seem to be swayed with the wind and the top story of the day. They no longer represent us, they represent their wallets.
To answer that question as to what patriotism means, I have to look at education reform that has taken place over the last 20-30 years. We are a nation made of many cultures, and what binds us together has always been the American flag and the ideals behind that flag. To be precise, our Constitution and what our forefathers had in mind for an ideal American nation. We have been moving away from what America represents by allowing the different cultures who come here not adapt to our ways of life. I believe that we have to assimilate and love what our Constitution has given us in order to return to what America was first designed to do and to provide for all of us: Freedom to pursue justice, fairness and equality to all of its people and to achieve the people’s own goals as to their ideal life.
We no longer teach patriotic songs to young children; we no longer teach the constitution in our elementary schools, nor at the high school level, and in college it is an elective if so desired. We no longer abide by our laws; the tiny minority has been forcing the majority to abdicate and to change our ways of life. Many people nowadays are ignorant of the principles of American government and the spiritual foundations of the nation. They seem unaware of the current saying: “To be born free is a great privilege: to die free is a great responsibility”. Ignorance is especially true of the younger generation in today’s world. There is a toxicity that plagues our current political climate, and it feels like nothing can be done. This cannot be further from the truth. We can start in our own backyard by making a stand in who we select as our representatives and voting out those who misrepresent us and who line their pockets with money.
American patriotism is the love for or devotion to America. It represents people who love this country and support the authority and interests. It also means that we have to teach history with all its flaws and ugly truths so we can value what we have and how far we have come from the cruelty of slavery and the atrocities committed long ago.
Patriotism means taking a stand, voting, being a decent individual with principles and fairness, not running away from our country, and being present each day! Patriotism means that you will do whatever is in your power to make sure we uphold our Constitutional rights and our values. We are accepting of other cultures; we love them and welcome them.
What we don’t welcome is their laws they are escaping from. Come to this country legally, come and assimilate to our way of life, our values, and love of country. See yourself as American of (insert your nationality here) decent. Never forget where you came from, but see yourself as America first. America owes you nothing! You owe America everything! Seek not to be enslaved by the erroneous thought of the few who want hand outs and reparations for something that did not happen to them.
Seek instead to be free of the slavery mentality and the victim hood that the few want to maintain. I choose to be a free person of my own volition and thought and my own means. I choose to be free to do and pursue my life as I see fit. I choose to earn what I have through my personal efforts and mental capacities. I will never be made a slave to the thought that someone owes me something and that reparations should be paid.
Where does that stop? Where does it take you? It is a hole I choose not to jump into. Remember, we are in a slightly alternate dimension and we are seeing it with everything that is wrong in Washington DC. The military still there as I’m writing this article, the fencing around the capital and extreme fear of the politicians who continue to line their pockets with money. They have sold America to the highest bidder, and they will continue unless we the American people start voting them out! We must demand election integrity, and we must demand they represent us as elected officials.
Patriotism to me is defending our way of life against all foreign and domestic enemies. I was never released of this oath when I left the military. I choose to fight for our freedoms and our way of life. To take an unwavering stand and to vote our representatives out of office when they do not line up with what the Constitution mandates. It is our right to be represented. It is our right to voice our opinion and what we need.
Take a stand and be a patriot!
CRISTIE REMMEL
Cristie Remmel is a Desert Storm Veteran, having served as a FMF Corpsman in the United States Navy. She is also a business owner and President of the DFW Veterans Chamber of Commerce as well as the National Chamber Development Director for the United States Veterans Chamber of Commerce.