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Blog Entry 194 of 366 I'm Brian Olson and I approved this Blog.
Politics to life in general, a view from a slightly right of center/off-kilter guy.

Blog Url: http://denver.yourhub.com/~BrianBlog

Exactly what is patriotism?
Contributed by: Brian Olson   on 7/3/2008

Happy Birthday America!

This is certainly a day when we think and talk a lot about patriotism. It's been an interesting week as well leading up to it.

Local jazz singer Rene Marie managed to insult the entire nation earlier in the week with her rancid rendition of the National Anthem. (No, there is NO such thing as a Black National Anthem.)

The latest in her ever-changing list of reasons for giving America the vocal equivilent of the middle finger, is it's about her experience as a black woman living in America. Marie lives a good life, sings jazz which she loves and apparently works as much as she likes. She's living her dream in the USA. Yet she spits on the USA claiming patriotism. Mis-guided friends of hers like Lannie Garrett and the gang at KUVO buy her lie. No, she was grandstanding, a liar and a monumental egotist.

Patriotism has nothing to do with wearing a flag pin on your lapel, or going to a fireworks show or having a "I Support the Troops" sticker on the back of your car. Or misbehaving at a civic event and claiming it's something else.

What Patriotism is:

1. Risking life and fortune signing the Declaration of Independence.

2. Putting your name on a ballot. Any ballot. It's a deeply personal commitment to community and nation.

3. Volunteering with programs like Americorps or Boys & Girls Clubs.

4. Volunteering to join the military, to put your life on the line to protect our nation.

5. Shedding a tear when you hear or even better, sing, the National Anthem. (Hick, give it a try instead of joking about it)

6. Voting.

7. Sewing an American Flag made of scraps inside your POW uniform.

8. Freedom of religion.

9. Not claiming to be more patriotic than someone else.

10. Realizing that government isn't the solution to our problems, and that we are.

11. Paying attention to how your elected representatives vote on important issues. And holding their feet to the fire when you disagree with them.

12. Walking up to a veteran, shaking their hand and thanking them for their service.

13. Solving your own problems instead of whining and complaining for government to do so.

14. Peaceful dissent.

15. Pointing out the horse manure when our politicians urge us to "conserve" while they live high on the hog, fly in private jets and spend millions on unnecessary political conventions. We're out of cake.

16. When the hair stands up on the back of your neck every time you see our flag.

17. Getting an education.

18. Doing your job with pride, regardless of what you do. And respecting other people who work hard for the money regardless of what they do.

19. Living within your means.

20. Living up to your word.

21. Judges who actually enforce laws instead of letting murderers and rapists go free after serving just minute portions of their sentences.

Just a few examples of patriotism. I'm sure you have more.

Happy birthday America. Sweet Land of Liberty. Of Thee I Sing. And once in a while, criticize.


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CONTRIBUTOR INFORMATION

Brian Olson

Highlands Ranch , CO

Brian Olson has posted 366 blog entries and 17 comments since joining on 11/30/2007. Brian Olson 's average blog rating is 4.74.
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