On Patriotism and Love of Country
I was listening to a radio talk show hosted by Michael Savage recently when the topic of conversation turned toward Patriotism...what it is, what it is not and what it means in America today.
While I was listening to the talk show a Marine from Camp Pendleton called in...
The Marine proceeded to name a laundry list of the counties that he had been in for extended periods of time over the last 20 years for reasons of conflict or peace keeping...
At first the Marine seemed to be long winded and full of himself while naming his own exploits and I almost turned off the radio from my annoyance - but that's when the Marine came around to his point and I stayed my hand from the dial...
The Marine that started by saying that he'd been around the world and experienced the best and worst that this world has to offer ended by saying that he'd never found any place on earth that captured his heart and soul the way that the United States of America does...
At that point in the conversation the hardened warrior on the other end of the phone started cry openly...
Now, I don't know about you...but when a grown-ass-mans-man chokes up and starts to cry on a nationally broadcast radio show because he's trying to make a point about how much he loves his country...let's just say that I was right there with him - and you should be too.
I love this country...I love where it came from, its roots in a Godly lifestyle and high moral ground. I get choked-up and misty-eyed when I hear the national anthem at a ball game and when I see fireworks spread across the sky in celebration of our nations freedom from tyranny.
I have great hope and also great fear for its future...I want to protect it and what it stands for...however I can find to do that.
Now, I'm not planning on enlisting or anything, don't worry mom, but I do feel a deep sense of pride for this place and I feel like it's worth fighting for to protect and nurture...if for nothing else, for my as-of-yet-unborn children...
So, in any way that I can find to show my Patriotism, I'll strive to do it.
Patriotism: Love for or devotion to one's country - Love of country and willingness to sacrifice for it.
When was the last time you actually thought about the words that make up our national anthem?
Read the words, don't hum the tune, read it line by line...just appreciate the reason it was written and enjoy the simple poetry.
***
Oh, say can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines on the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner! O long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion
A home and a country should leave us no more?
Their blood has wiped out their foul footstep's pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved homes and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heaven-rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
Play Ball.
While I was listening to the talk show a Marine from Camp Pendleton called in...
The Marine proceeded to name a laundry list of the counties that he had been in for extended periods of time over the last 20 years for reasons of conflict or peace keeping...
At first the Marine seemed to be long winded and full of himself while naming his own exploits and I almost turned off the radio from my annoyance - but that's when the Marine came around to his point and I stayed my hand from the dial...
The Marine that started by saying that he'd been around the world and experienced the best and worst that this world has to offer ended by saying that he'd never found any place on earth that captured his heart and soul the way that the United States of America does...
At that point in the conversation the hardened warrior on the other end of the phone started cry openly...
Now, I don't know about you...but when a grown-ass-mans-man chokes up and starts to cry on a nationally broadcast radio show because he's trying to make a point about how much he loves his country...let's just say that I was right there with him - and you should be too.
I love this country...I love where it came from, its roots in a Godly lifestyle and high moral ground. I get choked-up and misty-eyed when I hear the national anthem at a ball game and when I see fireworks spread across the sky in celebration of our nations freedom from tyranny.
I have great hope and also great fear for its future...I want to protect it and what it stands for...however I can find to do that.
Now, I'm not planning on enlisting or anything, don't worry mom, but I do feel a deep sense of pride for this place and I feel like it's worth fighting for to protect and nurture...if for nothing else, for my as-of-yet-unborn children...
So, in any way that I can find to show my Patriotism, I'll strive to do it.
Patriotism: Love for or devotion to one's country - Love of country and willingness to sacrifice for it.
When was the last time you actually thought about the words that make up our national anthem?
Read the words, don't hum the tune, read it line by line...just appreciate the reason it was written and enjoy the simple poetry.
***
Oh, say can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines on the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner! O long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion
A home and a country should leave us no more?
Their blood has wiped out their foul footstep's pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved homes and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heaven-rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
Play Ball.
posted by Benji at 10:54 AM
1 Comments:
Very well said Ben. As the son of a man who served in the US Navy for 25 years, I have always had a heavy heart for my country. My father served 2 stints at Vietnam. Twice! Imagine, making it home from that hell, and then having to return to it. And you know, not once did my dad ever bitch about it. It was his duty as an American. At his funeral, which was held at Fort Rosecrans in Point Loma, I don't think I cried any harder at any time during the funeral then at the time they, military personel, folded up the American flag and placed the 3 bullets inside and thanked my father and mother for my fathers years of service. I had so many emotions running through me. Sadness, resentment, fear, and also, pride. Pride in my father, pride in my country and pride in my own self. Rather than walking back to my car with my head down, I walked out with my head held high. God Bless America and LIVEstrong.
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