To me, patriotism means loving and being devoted to my country. It means being thankful to those before me who laid their lives down against the forces of evil who would take power for themselves or to captivate others. Loving my country and being devoted to it means that I will lay down my life for my neighbor or my friend or any fellow American who's liberty is in peril by said forces of evil.
There are many great examples of true patriots in American history. Many from the Revolutionary war come to mind. Any person who voluntarily enlists in the military for the sake of defending our constitutional and inalienable rights, in my opinion is a patriot. I believe Captain Moroni, the stripling warriors of Helaman's army and others who defending their liberty are also patriots.
Furthermore, patriotism, in my opinion isn't limited to those who sacrifice their lives in our defense, but also those who sacrifice their time to serve our country in more social capacities. A true American patriot respects our flag because he/she understands what it represents. It's not just a random selection of colors and shapes.
Just my two cents.
__________________
"No unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done" (History of the Church, 4:540).
|