July 3, 2008

• How large of a role does patriotism play in your life?

  I suppose one would have to define what "patriot" meant, first.  I'm going with this entry from dictionary.com:

  2.a person who
  regards himself or herself as a defender, esp. of individual rights,
  against presumed interference by the federal government.

  By this definition, I would consider myself a patriot.  For instance, I firmly believe in a woman's right to choose how she wants to handle pregnancy.  I can't say I would have an abortion personally, but I don't want *you* making that choice for *me*, and I don't feel it's right for anyone else to mandate that choice.  I'm also no fan of censorship.  Of course, I monitor what my kids watch on television, what music they listen to, what they read, what they do on the computer...but that's my job as their parent.  I will not ever attempt to tell another person what is and is not fit for them to read, watch, listen to, or play. 

  Wasn't it Oscar Wilde who said "Dissent is the highest form of patriotism."?  While I don't feel I'm a dissenter, isn't it my right, my obligation, as an American, to speak my mind?  Change doesn't come by merely sitting around on your hands, waiting for it to knock on your door.  Change only comes about by people actively doing something to foster that change.

  So yes, in my mind, I am a patriot.
     

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  • 9:37 pm
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