Mt. Prospect Area Veterans

Defining Americanism and Patriotism

As the presidential debates escalate, the candidates espouse Americanism and Patriotic values while criticizing the other of not living these virtues. These are powerful words that have been used before the birth of our nation and have been used to unite and foster shared values and beliefs to preserve our freedoms.

But what do they really mean to us today? Are they interchangeable and have a similar meaning? During the national convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars on 1920, a definition of Americanism was drafted:

"Americanism is an unfailing love of country: loyalty to its institutions and ideals; eagerness to defend it against all enemies; undivided allegiance to the flag; and a desire to secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and posterity."

This definition of Americanism proclaims the ideas, virtues, values, beliefs and attitudes that establishes the culture in which we live. They are defined in our Declaration of Independence, Constitution of the United States and the laws that govern us. Patriotism on the other hand is the behaviors or the actions in which supports the Americanism values and beliefs. Simply stated, Patriotism is the actions which we take to define and defend our American culture.

Members of the military are often referred to as patriots because they carry out the actions defined in these values. The virtues of patriotism become crystallized when they take the oath:

“I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter.”

Patriotic actions are difficult to explain to those who have not served in the military. To better illustrate the meaning of a patriot, I have put together some examples:

Your alarm goes off; you hit the snooze and sleep for another 10 minutes.
He stays up for days on end.

You take a warm shower to help you wake up.
He goes days or weeks without running water.

You complain of a "headache", and call in sick.
He gets shot at as others are hit, and keeps moving forward.

You put on your anti war/don't support the troops shirt, and go meet up with your friends.
He still fights for your right to wear that shirt.

You make sure you're cell phone is in your pocket.
He clutches the cross hanging on his chain next to his dog tags.

You talk trash about your "buddies" that aren't with you.
He knows he may not see some of his buddies again.

You walk down the beach, staring at all the pretty girls.
He walks the streets, searching for insurgents and terrorists.

You complain about how hot it is.
He wears his heavy gear, not daring to take off his helmet to wipe his brow.

You go out to lunch, and complain because the restaurant got your order wrong.
He doesn't get to eat today.

Your maid makes your bed and washes your clothes.
He wears the same things for weeks, but makes sure his weapons are clean.

You go to the mall and get your hair redone.
He doesn't have time to brush his teeth today.

You're angry because your class ran 5 minutes over.
He's told he will be held over an extra 2 months.

You call your girlfriend and set a date for tonight.
He waits for the mail to see if there is a letter from home.

You hug and kiss your girlfriend, like you do everyday.
He holds his letter close and smells his love's perfume.

You roll your eyes as a baby cries.
He gets a letter with pictures of his new child, and wonders if they'll ever meet

You criticize your government, and say that war never solves anything.
He sees the innocent tortured and killed by their own people and remembers why he is fighting.

You hear the jokes about the war, and make fun of men like him.
He hears the gunfire, bombs and screams of the wounded.

You see only what the media wants you to see.
He sees the broken bodies lying around him.

You are asked to go to the store by your parents. You don't.
He does exactly what he is told.

You stay at home and watch TV.
He takes whatever time he is given to call, write home, sleep, and eat.

You crawl into your soft bed, with down pillows, and get comfortable.
He crawls under a tank for shade and a 5 minute nap, only to be woken by gunfire.

You sit there and judge him, saying the world is probably a worse place because of men like him.
If only there were more men like him!

Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you, Jesus Christ and the American soldier, sailor, and airman.One died for your soul, the other for your freedom.

Can ordinary citizens be patriots? The answer is yes, if our actions espouse the values and beliefs of Americanism. The members of the Mt. Prospect VFW are patriots because they are taking action and working to support the veterans in our community and throughout the country. Be a patriot and help us meet our mission.