A_Patriot

What Does It Mean to be a Patriot' Since my father has served in the military for most of his adult life, I chose to expand on the definition of a patriot. My basic operating definition of a patriot is someone who loves, protects and defends his or her country and its’ way of life without conditions or reservations. This definition is simple, but it encompasses a wide range of actions the can allow someone to be classified as a patriot. Patriots exist, in many instances before the country was even formed, and continue to exist throughout a country’s history. Patriots can be found in all walks of life. The can be found in our military, as civilians who rise up under special circumstances, in public office or in public service. Patriots are not unique to our country. Every country has and celebrates members of society who have risked and sacrificed to make their country a better place. Here you should do some internet research to look up heroes/patriots from other countries. England, France, China, Japan, Russia all have heroes or patriots who have done something great for their country. Plug in a few examples to complete this paragraph. In our own country, our first thoughts of patriots are the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence. These men had an idea of a new country, independent from the rule and taxation of England. Each man knew that by signing that document they were, sacrificing their lives, families, homes and property, yet they signed the document anyway. In the years following the signing of the Declaration of Independence, these men suffered greatly. Some, like Richard Stockton were taken prisoner; others lost their homes and property, while still others were forced to flee for their lives. These men knew that by affixing their signature to that specific document, their lives would change most probably for the worse, but they did it in hope that the future of their families and their colonies would be far better. Military men and women are often seen as patriots due to a shared belief that the protection of their country is worth more than their individual sacrifices. While I am not sure where this patriotic feeling or belief comes from, I know what it looks like. It is a teenage boy in the late 1970s and early 1980s who on his 18th birthday joins the Army to fight a thing called Communism. While the young soldier does not fully understand what Communism is, he believes it is a threat to our freedom and way of life and therefore must be stopped at all costs. A patriot is a woman who after September 11, 2001 quits her job, kisses her husband goodbye and leaves for Marine boot camp at Paris Island. While she is sad to leave her family she is driven by the need to protect them and others against the future attacks. A patriot is Pat Tillman, a safety for the Arizona Cardinal’s football team, who in 2002 gave up a three and a half million dollar contract to join the Army and fight a war against terrorism. A man who gave up fame and fortune to serve his country, only to die two years later during a battle in Afghanistan. Patriots are also normal everyday citizens who find themselves doing exceptional things during special circumstances. They are the firefighters, police, emergency response, search and rescue, and medical personnel who after seeing the devastation on September 11, 2001 loaded up the supplies they had and headed to New York and Washington D. C. They didn’t have an assignment or order and there was no command to report to, but they went and did what they could to help. They used their own money and supplies, slept in vehicles, and worked long hours with no guarantee of pay because there were Americans in need. Another example came on and after August 29, 2005 when hurricane Katrina hit Louisiana. Thousands of emergency responders, utility workers, police officers and National Guardsman rushed to Louisiana because America had been hit by a natural disaster and Americans needed help. While these men and women worked for months following the disaster to restore a minimum standard of living, there were also a large number of other people behind the scenes who went largely unnoticed. The Red Cross, United Way, religious organizations and civic groups were on the scene as volunteers providing support, comfort, erecting shelters, providing meals and water to both the workers and the affected population. These men and women are also patriots. A patriot is also one who makes his or her life in public office. Those men and women with a passion to make our lives better and safer by introducing and supporting legislation designed to protect us and our way of life. An example of this is Mark Hatfield, a former Senator from Oregon who retired after 46 years in public service. During his time in office, Senator Hatfield voted against America entering the conflict in Vietnam. At the time, he was one of only two people to vote against our participation in that conflict, but he believed that it was not in our best interest and so stood as a minority. He introduced legislation calling for regulations on US arms sales. His efforts limited what arms could be sold, and to which foreign governments. He did this to minimize the threat that our weapons might be used against Americans in the future. He also co-sponsored a bill calling for a freeze on nuclear arms. Senator Hatfield recognized the global danger involved in a nuclear build up. Patriots exist in those who spend their lives in service to their communities. Police, fire, and emergency responders are all examples of patriots. These men and women undertake dangerous jobs for very little pay and often little or no recognition. They work shifts, providing protection and aid 24 hours a day. The police officer works to stop crime and drugs in our community. They often approach suspects who outnumber and outgun them. They work in dark and strange environments where danger can always exist around the next corner. The fireman rushes into a burning building to save a stranger, with little regard to his or her own safety. The emergency medical responders go into neighborhoods and homes to provide aid and medical support to the ill and wounded, never sure of how they will be received or who else may be present. These men and women who are in service to the public, risk their lives to help others and often for a salary so small they cannot support their own families. The final example of a patriot is the man or woman who cares enough about their community, state and country to learn about the issues affecting them and then goes out on Election Day and votes. Not everyone receives a calling to serve the greater population, but everyone can do their part to show their love and offer protection to their country. Only a little over 50% of Americans who are eligible to vote actually go out and vote, even during a presidential election. Those voters who take the time to learn about the issues, determine where the candidates stand on those issues and then vote for the candidate who offers what that American believes will ensure the protection, safety and progress of this country is also patriot. Now you need a closing paragraph to wrap it all up. You can delete the paragraph at the beginning about patriots being found in every country, but it really does help round out your paper and provide further evidence for your expanded definition of a patriot.