As this year's election heats up, the topic of the war in Iran will become even more prominant and controversial. Challenge your students to think deeply about their stand on this issue and not just parrot back what the media or a popular candidate espouses.
Read the link provided to Wildfred Owen's classic poem, "Dulce Est Decorum Est." http://www.warpoetry.co.uk/owen1.html Then respond to the following:
What does it mean to you to be patriotic? Should you be willing to die for your country? If you aren't, does that mean you aren't patriotic?
Saturday, March 15, 2008
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4 comments:
My comments are heavily influenced by my background. Both of my parents immigrated here for a better life than they felt their home country allowed them. They were and are very stanch believers in the power and possibilities of America and those beliefs were firmly instilled into my outlook.
As a child, most of our family friends were immigrants from diverse locations. They had fled persecution, communism, ethnic wars, poverty, brutality, ect... all in the name of American freedom. I can picture the faces of these friends when we talk about America. I can see their pride in this country, their hope in and for this country, and I can see how much it meant to them to be here. That alone is enough to make me pretty proud of this country.
I think patriotism is more than dying for your country; it’s about being proud of your country. I think it’s also about getting angry when you are not happy with the way your country behaves and striving to affect change. I think patriotism means helping other people enjoy what this country has to offer, either through friendly encouragement, advice, counseling, or volunteering. I think patriotism means loving your country enough that you want to be the best person you can possibly be to make your country better because you are a part of it. I think you need to support your county and its people. I believe patriotism means being an ambassador for your country when you speak with people from other countries or when you travel. I believe patriotism means learning the history of your country. If I do all this things and feel this way about my country, the question of dying for Her shouldn't be asked - it should be a natural conclusion, if my country needs me to die then I die.
These beliefs mean I have a lot of work to do before I can consider myself extremely patriotic. I am remiss on my American history, don't volunteer as much as I should, don't do enough to support the troops, and I am not getting involved enough to affect change with things I dislike.
But I am not doing too badly either, I donated 7 years to the military, I was willing to die for the country (now that I have children, it is a little harder for me lay down and die), I try my best to always act as an ambassador when I travel, and I am completing a degree which will help me help more Americans.
I think that patriotism should not be gauged by an individual's willingness to die for his/her country. I vote, and if an issue truly upsets me, I will work to effect change, but am I willing to die? No. If my family were in mortal danger here in this country, I would move before I expose my children to that. Does that make me less of a patriot? Maybe it does, but my family will always come before my country. I thank God that there are others willing to make that sacrifice, and I pray for our soldiers every day that they will not be forced to make that sacrifice, but personally, I do not have that in me.
Wow! The above comments are very powerful. Thank you so much for sharing them.
I believe that patriotism can hold many different meanings to many different people. To me, patriotism is being proud of your country, believing in your country, and doing the best that you can do, no matter how minimal it may seem, to ensure that you live your life in a way that is beneficial to your country. To me, it is that simple. There does not have to be a willingness to die in order for their to be a willingness to want your country to prosper and succeed.
I think with the level of patriotism exhibited in my lifetime (post-September 11th) makes this a relevant issue to students. The students should be challenged to answer the question what is patriotism? They have probably seen and developed opinions in a post-September 11th society as well. But what was patriotism in my mother's generation (1970's) and mine, and my students will be very different. This is a fantastic issue to explore and let your students articulate what this means for them.
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