"Liberty, when it begins to take root, is a plant of rapid growth"...... George Washington
Patriotism is a love of and loyalty to one's country. A patriot is someone who loves, supports, and is prepared to serve their country.
The word patriotism comes from a Greek word meaning fatherland. For most of history, love of fatherland or homeland was an attachment to the physical features of the land. But that notion changed in the eighteenth century, when the ideals of democracy, socialism, and communism strongly emerged into political thought. Patriotism was still a love of one's country that included connections to the land and people, but then also included its customs and traditions, pride in its history, and devotion to its welfare.
Some famous quotes on Patriotism.
"In the beginning of a change, the patriot is a scarce man, and brave and hated and scorned. When his cause succeeds the timid join him, for then it costs nothing to be a patriot." —Mark Twain
"It is our duty still to endeavor to avoid war; but if it shall actually take place, no matter by whom brought on, we must defend ourselves. If our house be on fire, without inquiring whether it was fired from within or without, we must try to extinguish it." ---Thomas Jefferson
A couple messages from their graves, to the Democratic party, the party of cut and run.
"The probability that we may fail in the struggle ought not to deter us from the support of a cause we believe to be just." --- Abraham Lincoln
"We stand for freedom. That is our conviction for ourselves; that is our only commitment to others." -- John F. Kennedy
"A man does what he must-in spite of personal consequences, in spite of obstacles and dangers and pressures-and that is the basis of all human morality." --John F. Kennedy
"Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty." --- John F. Kennedy
To John Kerry a message from Abraham Lincoln.
"Tis better to be silent and be thought a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt." -- Abraham Lincoln
From our President, George Bush.
"Americans are a free people, who know that freedom is the right of every person and the future of every nation. The liberty we prize is not America's gift to the world; it is God's gift to humanity."
"We will not tire, we will not falter, and we will not fail."
In this day and age, I find that the left media and the Democratic party does not just speak out against the policies of our administration, which I admit IS their right, but they attack our president, our troops and they demoralize our troops who are fighting in a war on terror.
They know and understand, as well as having been shown the actual proof in the words of the terrorists in letters we have intercepted from al-Qaeda to their members and from the members to al-Qaeda, that the enemies goals are to use the media to "expel" the Americans from Iraq. Their words clearly state that they will make this war as unpopular as possible to use the American people to persuade the military and the administration to leave Iraq. These letters also make it clear that when we leave al-Qaea is prepared to move in and take control of Iraq.
We have also heard from members of the Muslim community that our enemies keep track of what we do using the media, they will do anything they can to influence our elections, because they feel that their only hope of winning the war on terror against the US is for the Democratic party to win in the elections and make the president a "lame duck."
Knowing all of this, the Democratic party and the left media, for political reasons are willing to encourage our enemies, strengthen them and put our soldiers in even more danger in Iraq and in Afghanistan by calling for a pullout of Iraq, calling on the US to abandon the Iraqi's once again.
Is this patriotism or politics?
Instead of doing everything in their power to make sure the troops have all the tools they need to win this war, the party of the left vote against every measure that will insure that our troops have the capabilities to win. Why?
Why does the Democratic party not want us to win this war in Iraq?
Ladies and gentlemen, we are coming to the last leg of the race and we need to vote, we need to encourage our friends and our family to vote. We need to win in Iraq and in Afghanistan, because I have no doubt, nor should you, that if we do not.... we WILL be attacked again on our soil.
The Heart of a Soldier.
I met him at the Wall, that dark September day;
his eyes were clear and bright, although his hair was gray.
He wore a faded jacket, and as he knelt and prayed,
I looked in admiration at the medals there displayed.
Proud of my own new uniform, I stood straight and tall,
beside this older Veteran, now weeping at the Wall.
His hands seemed somehow faded, like the tiny flag they held.
He stumbled slightly as he rose; I now his cane beheld.
And as he looked at me, his eyes still filled with tears.
a smile of recognition came, despite my fewer years.
One glance at my chevron’d sleeve, another at my chest,
told him of my recent past, my face told him the rest.
“In Vietnam they said we lost;” deep pain now filled his eyes.
“But I remember, yes I remember, the agony and cries.”
“For many years I’ve kept this flag, and carried it with pride,
in mem’ry of our comrades there who fought and bled and died.”
“I tried to re-enlist,” he said, “They said I was too old.”
“And this old leg feels greater pain, ‘specially in the cold.”
My own eyes now filled with tears as he gave the flag to me.
“Carry this for all the others who died to keep us free.”
I think about that old Soldier, who passed to me the dream,
a’kneelin’ here with all my gear beside an Afghan stream.
I swear by all that’s holy that I will do my best,
to save the dream, then touch the flag now sown into my vest.
“Duty, honor, Country,” now becomes my creed,
I serve the cause of liberty, I ride sweet freedom’s steed.
As we remount, the rotors whir, o’er Afghan plains we fly,
I touch the flag and now recall, “Old Soldiers never die.”
Never forget those that fight for us in Iraq or Afghanistan. Stand by them as they fight this war. Help them by letting them know they have your support.
They believe their course is worthwhile and they risk their lives every single day for that cause and all they expect from us is a little patriotism.
Do you have any to give them?