Have you ever felt you were lost, with no one to turn to, no way to get out of what you have gotten yourself into? This is a feeling many of our soldiers get when they are in the midst of a war. They wonder what they're going to do, how they're going to get through these tough times, how they're going to survive. Then, they pull out that picture. The picture of their family, friends, and country. They realize that they're just going to have to push through and stay tough, so that they can fight for freedom for themselves and their loved ones. They have to fight for our country so that we may live and be free.
To me, that's what patriotism is all about. It's about normal people like you and me, going out and serving our country, even when the odds are grim, when nothing is going right. I’m not saying that you need to go and join the armed forces, of course. Patriotism is about serving your country, but you can do that in many ways. You can donate money to people less fortunate than you, volunteer, support our servicemen and woman, and give them hope. You could simply put up an American flag outside your house to show you care! There are endless ways to show love and devotion to our country, and they're all very simple.
Patriotism matters to me because if we didn't have patriotism, what would our country end up being? If patriotism is what drives our servicemen and women to stay strong and fight for our country, what would happen if there wasn't any of that? Where would America be? Would we have been taken over long ago by a ruthless dictator? Would we be slaves, with no freedom, no hope? What would've happened to our beloved country without patriotism?
So, if you ask me if patriotism still matters, I would immediately respond with these words: "If it didn't, then where do you think our country would be? Not where we are now, that’s for sure."
