PATRIOTS

What is patriotism and who are patriots?  Too often when we speak of patriots we visualize a military figure,  burdened with a heavy pack, with bombs bursting around him and firing an automatic weapon at the enemy.  There can be no doubt they are patriots and heroes.  But, they are not the only patriots.

Patriots believe our Constitution is the basis of our freedom and that defending it is worth dying for.  But how can a patriot do that unless they know and understand the Constitution.  How can we judge if those we entrust in government are adhering faithfully to its intent if we do not know its content?  A real patriot knows what his country stands for and will fight his own government, if necessary, which may violate it as well as a foreign enemy who would deprive him of it.

While there are brave men and women who will risk their lives for our country, we also need men and women on the home front who will keep our government in check and not allow them to assume authority they do no possess.  What good do our soldiers do if we don't preserve the things they risk their lives for.   A patriot does not always support those who are in office, instead, they do their best to keep them in check.. People in politics almost inevitably become corrupted in some way if they remain in office long enough.  The system invites corruption so we must remain informed at all times.

Good government is in the hands of the people.  The "they are all the same" mantra is not accurate.  Most people who enter politics, I believe, enter with good intentions but, given enough time, they do become "all the same".  The solution is simple.  Don't give them "enough time" to be corrupted.