The definition of patriotism has several facets, like a diamond. The first facet is the definition of who we are as an individual, and the second facet is the definition of who we are as a group of people. Looking at these together they are the facets of our relationship to God, us to ourselves, and us to our culture, and lastly to Humankind. All these definitions run deep and are based strongly on pride. It is not enough just to realize and know who you are, it must at some point include being proud of this realized identity as well. We are to embellish it, showcase it and be proud in doing so. Patriotism is the tendency and act of being true to something and standing for something proudly.
That something must be a difference from something else which is normal, average, something plain and without any definition at all. Being true to something always involves pride in being true to this difference. Each of us from our first breath is given by God a natural tendency to love our identity, our difference, and a tendency to showcase it to others and to the world. Being proud of our difference and wanting to contribute our difference to something greater than ourselves of which we are a part is the essence of patriotism.
The first facet of patriotism is devotion to our unique selves. We are more than just a person, each of us in at our innermost being, is a statement for or about something, and that something is always good. Patriotism is this closest relationship, our loyalty tendency within us to ourselves the individual. How loyal are we to being the best we can be as God created us to be? Some feel disheartened because they do not think of themselves as important and valuable. The inspirational truth is; to someone or something out there in our future, we are very valuable. First feeling a sense of pride in yourself and patriotic to being yourself is the foundation of your life. It is also the first level in the patriotism structure.
The second facet in patriotism is you to God, if possible. God put you in your culture, gave your similarities so you could see some things the same. And see some things differently as an individual so you could add those differences to it to make your culture complete. God, and your relationship to Him may not be explained through any popular religion. God for some individuals is through their gift, talent, interest, or passion. Theological education for many has nothing to do with their relationship to God. Their proper living in that relationship can take as many different healthy forms as there are people experiencing it. For some it is through their passion of healing others as a doctor, through their profession. For others it is through nurturing others as a mother, caregiver or neighbor.
For still others it is through their hobby of raising chickens or staying at home as an adult caring for their parents. One important point here that religions do not want you to know: Your proper relationship to God does not have to be through any religion or certified theological instruction. I have known many people that have never been in a church in their life who unconsciously are living the most proper, honorable, and correct lives for themselves and others. If God is not satisfied with them, then I do not want to be in Heaven with Him, I want to be with those I love outside of Heaven. I love Humankind that much. I am that patriotic to them. I hope God understands, but I do not care if He does not. Do you see where this is room for us to see things through our own eyes instead of others' or religion's eyes?
The third facet in patriotism is you to your culture. Every group of people come with an identity and as a statement of something positive. Nomadic cultures relate more deeply to nature as they are more directly connected to it. Organized stationary cultures relate more directly to an aspect of themselves. In Burkina Faso, for example where some very close family loved ones we know are from, define themselves as, ‘the land of upright people.’ Every culture will find a characteristic of which they are proud and embellish that part of their identity. It is natural to see ourselves as better, or the best and emulate that in a show of pride and importance. That is normal, healthy and godly. God made each person, and thusly the group, to be different and have a color we can bring making Humankind an impressive rainbow of experience.
The cultures from Africa bring emphasis on music, dancing, creativity in the arts, storytelling, colorful expression, and festivity. Northern Europeans such as I, English and German bring war making, engineering, legal structure, exploration in education, science, and political organization. South American cultures bring vast appreciation for nature, and impressive creativity in their folklore. Their celebrating of this through dancing and costume is the most elaborate of what patriotic expression can be.
Patriotism for one’s culture, local, regional and national must be expressed. It is not enough to feel it, it must be expressed in some form to be validated. That is what us humans do. Every identifiable area, such as a town, city, state or region will create a statement or slogan to mark their patriotism in some way. Forms of comparison will be created such as sports as a way we can measure who is best and is a standardized way of proving it. Making war, piracy, and conquering did the same thing in Medieval times. In modern days in undeveloped areas these practices continue. In higher societies sports are the medium of patriotic expression.
In the United States our patriotic posture is unique because of the original formation of our government in our constitution. Our patriotic posture was created on a value system based of equality and freedom of the common man. Our country was formed from a collection of citizens from the common man leaving government oppression from multiple countries in Northern Europe. We as a group of nationalities collectively placed high values on elaboration of our rights and defined them. We not only defined them for ourselves, but we also defined them as inalienable rights for all Humankind everywhere. Thusly our country self-defined as the liberators of oppression for all common man in all other countries as well. This has never been done before in history. We defined ourselves as the lighthouse of freedom, the fortress of human rights as the standard for Humankind everywhere to follow.
Because our Northern European culture of engineering and building made us the most powerful country on earth, this is a good foundation on which this claim stands. When we think of patriotism in America, we think of values of freedom, capitalism, the rights to build our personal estates, and making provision for those who cannot care for themselves. Because of our unique patriotic stand, not just for our country, we are claiming our right to enforce rights in Humankind overall everywhere we are invited. This completes the last facet in patriotism which is us as a member nation to Humankind overall.
All this is how I see patriotism through my own eyes. How do you see patriotism through your own eyes? What is the good thing in you that you want to develop for your own enjoyment? Whatever it is, I am sure there is a patriotic element to it. Patriotism is more than one contributing to a culture, it is also about that culture needing and welcoming one into that culture to make it complete. Patriotism truly goes both ways. Being your true self and putting yourself in the team of those you love, family, community, country, Humankind and God is where you belong and are needed. Somewhere at some level in all of this is where you will be happiest and where you will find your home, as I have found mine.
Just for the record, this is an emotional and spiritual encouragement ministry. We are selling nothing here and are not at the present time even set up to take donations, and probably never will. Your healed life is our reward enough, and we are very pleased with that. If you want to, please share your strength with others in your future so our nurturing can live on.