Patriotism

             Compared to the Americans of the past century, Americans now do not fully understand the meaning of patriotism, and how to be a citizen of their country. Nowadays there is a different brand of patriotism afloat, one that does not need much help to describe. A vast majority of Americans now do not understand what it is to be a citizen of their country; they are not even able to comprehend what it means to show patriotism. What exactly is patriotism? Is it love for a country and the willingness to sacrifice for it, or is it just hanging an American flag up in the front yard? Nowadays it is a mixture of the two, however, it should only be the first.
             The traditional American family of the 1940's and 50's was the perfect example of a patriotic family, true citizens of one's country. During those two decades being an American meant being a good representative of their family, which reflected upon the country itself as a whole. The American during these decades was in complete control of them self; the average American did what he needed to not because he was told, but instead because it was the right thing to do. Americans during this time were involved in a war where coming together was of the up most importance, and so they did because that is what was expected of them and their neighbors. To do this was nothing more than being an American citizen.
             It seems, however, that in the most recent decades the expectations of an American citizen have fallen to sub par levels, and seem to be dropping even farther in the recent wake of events. In the recent decade more and more patriotism is showing up in families across the country, because of the war that is going on, but it used to be not all that long ago that as long as an American had an American flag hanging up in the front yard he was patriotic. However, that is not how it should be at all. Americans in this decade need to look at the examples of their ancestors and f...

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Patriotism. (1969, December 31). In MegaEssays.com. Retrieved 08:04, March 29, 2024, from https://www.megaessays.com/viewpaper/27296.html