Patriotism: Ways I demonstrate patriotism & support for our country

(Editor’s note: Responding to the theme of “How are you showing patriotism and support for our country?” Melodie Triplett replied with the following essay.)
Are you truly patriotic when you claim to love your country? People today think that patriotism is just waving flags around, yelling, “I love America!” However, I believe showing patriotism and support for our country is much deeper than that.
I demonstrate patriotism and support for our country by promoting unity, honoring veterans and current military, and educating myself and others on our country’s history and current events.
Promoting unity is an important way to express patriotism. Most people nowadays treat each other with no respect, which has caused our nation to become divided. When normalizing violence toward one another, our country’s harmony begins to falter. Our country as a whole has lost sight of what true patriotism is.
America is so concerned about politics and arguing which side is better that the nation as a whole has forgotten that we need to support each other to have harmony. The Preamble of the Constitution clearly states, “We the people of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union,” which shows that our nation is supposed to be built upon unity.
Additionally, one of my favorite quotes, “United we stand, divided we fall,” shows that our nation will crumble without unity. However, I believe this fate can be prevented through the unity that the founding fathers intended our country to be based upon.
An amazing way to demonstrate unity is by listening to others’ opinions while sharing your own opinion. Additionally, being kind to others, especially to those who are different from you, sets an example of what a true patriot is.
To build a united nation, we must respect each other despite our many differences and work with one another to uphold our shared morals.
I support my country by respecting others’ opinions, being kind to everyone and not picking fights with people I don’t agree with.
Another important way of showing patriotism is by honoring the military and our nation’s veterans.
I have family members and family friends who have served in the past, and I understand the sacrifices the military makes.
One of the major problems in our nation is the mistreatment of veterans despite the selfless actions of defending our nation’s freedoms.
Most veterans suffer from physical disabilities, mental illness, abuse from their families and homelessness. As a result of these factors, many veterans commit suicide.
This disregard is dishonorable and unacceptable.
It is important to appreciate our veterans because they did not have to sacrifice their bodies and minds for our country.
Respecting our current military is just as important. Our current military provides humanitarian aid, disaster relief and security from foreign threats. Recently, our military has also kept larger cities safer.
I show my respect to the past and current armed forces by participating in national holidays like Veterans Day and Memorial Day, saying thank you for their service and listening to their stories.
Another important way to express patriotism is by educating myself and others on past and current events. Educating myself on my nation’s past, both the good and the bad, helps me understand the freedoms and rights we have today.
It also helps me form my own opinions on the current political climate and to appreciate my country’s highs, lows, losses and victories.
True patriots don’t love their country blindly; they love their country with reason, which is why it is essential to share knowledge of our history with other citizens.
By informing others, I create more patriots who truly know why our country is worth protecting. Additionally, staying informed on current events enables me to formulate my own opinions and helps me speak up for what I believe is right.
Being educated is one of the most powerful ways to show true patriotism.
By believing in unity, honoring the past and current military, and educating myself and others on history and our modern society, I can show patriotism and support my country.
Unity, respect, honor and knowledge are important factors in being a well-functioning society, and they should be more normalized.
Patriotism is not a simple thing that can be achieved through simple actions; you have to truly believe in and love your country, no matter what.
By embodying these qualities, I set an example for my peers to do better for themselves, which will create a brighter future.