Have we lost our Patriotism?

[jhirsh5280]

It seems today that I hear more and more stories about our veterans being used and abused. I hear more and more stories about placing a higher value on illegal aliens as the future of our country while kicking our veterans to the curb. The latest budget deal has me seriously questioning whether or not our country has lost its patriotism.

I just spent 1 week in Pearl Harbor with 8 survivors for the 72nd commemoration of the attacks. They told me stories of what it used to be like in this country. When soldiers were respected, when people helped one another out of the goodness of their hearts for God and country. When people didnt worry about payment for services, they just wanted to make sure it got done and done right...the first time. I sat in awe of these men not just for what they did for our country as young men (teenagers really) but for what they stand for and what they believe in. They continually told me throughout the trip that the current iteration of our country is far from what they fought for 72 years ago. They despise Washington, politicians and especially our president.

This is the second year in a row Ive done this trip (Through the "Greatest Generations Foundation") and each time Ive come back was a tremendous sense of pride and excitement, not just about our military and our vets but about our country. Then reality snaps me back and I see stories like the new budget deal that cuts veteran benefits, things like Phil Robertson giving his personal opinion then being lambasted by the media and strong armed by certain groups. It makes me wonder, what are we doing? How have we come so far from those brave young men 72 years ago to now?

I know there are Patriots all over this country and especially on this forum, but I cant help but think the rest of the country has no idea. They choose to ignore what made this country great in the first place. They choose to ignore the sacrifice of our soldiers who literally put their lives on the line and those that pay the ultimate sacrifice in blood. The same people who are now ruining the country our veterans fought and died for are the same people who spit on our returning soldiers from Vietnam and they are trying to do what the Viet Cong, Germans, Japanese, Koreans and Taliban couldnt do. It upsets and saddens me that we dont give more reverence.

I know my country will not die, I know there are good people left who will continue to fight the good fight but I cant help but think: Have we lost our Patriotism?

[ChuckNorris]

A smart person learns from past history. Unfortunately we have too many lazy idiots in this country with the ability to vote - but not the ability to learn or educate themselves.
The old lessons of pride, dignity, and self worth are no longer accepted by the younger generation. They feel that they are entitled by just being born.
I am sick and tired of all of this 'politically correct' crap.
This country needs to stand up and fight back for what is right, and quit rolling over to all of these bleeding heart, liberal assholes!

[Circuits]

Refusal of immigrants to assimilate waters down the national identity. Big swathes of the country are now west-west europe, or east-east-asia or north-north mexico, and they don't really give a crap about US traditional values.

[RblDiver]

Refusal of immigrants to assimilate waters down the national identity. Big swathes of the country are now west-west europe, or east-east-asia or north-north mexico, and they don't really give a crap about US traditional values.

Pffft, CLEARLY you're just a bigot, wanting them to give up THEIR identity. How dare you demand that people who come to join our country also accept our culture?

(*Sigh* Whatever happened to the melting pot, not the salad bowl)

[Ranger353]

Thank you and God bless you for thinking of the Veterans. It seems that the term "Vet" is a dirty foul word in some liberal circles, and I just don't understand why.

[osok-308]

Pffft, CLEARLY you're just a bigot, wanting them to give up THEIR identity. How dare you demand that people who come to join our country also accept our culture?

(*Sigh* Whatever happened to the melting pot, not the salad bowl)

"We should insist that if the immigrant who comes here does in good faith become an

American and assimilates himself to us he shall be treated on an exact equality with every one else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed or birth-place or origin.

But this is predicated upon the man's becoming in very fact an American and nothing but an American. If he tries to keep segregated with men of his own origin and separated from the rest of America, then he isn't doing his part as an American. There can be no divided allegiance here. . . We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language, for we intend to see that the crucible turns our people out as Americans, of American nationality, and not as dwellers in a polyglot boarding-house; and we have room for but one soul loyalty, and that is loyalty to the American people."
--Theodore Roosevelt

Allowing for people to not speak the language of our country does nothing to increase fellowship among Americans, but it keeps us divided. You cannot be in league with someone unless you have a mutual way to understand one another. If I were planning on living in Germany, you can bet your backside I'd learn German, or if I wanted to live in Russia (God help me) I'd learn Russian. It's respect for the country you choose to live in and those who are allowing such a thing to happen. I work with many immigrants, and I can tell you that I personally will gladly take them trying to speak broken English over their language, mostly because it shows that they are trying to learn and have (at least some level of) respect for this country.

[kidicarus13]

Unfortunately this country will never be what it was 72 years ago as far as patriotism goes. We'll see patriotic periods of time (the months after 9-11) but those periods fade away quickly when a country as a whole is more concerned about where the cast of Jersey Shore is now and the release of the IPhone 6.

[osok-308]

Unfortunately this country will never be what it was 72 years ago as far as patriotism goes. We'll see patriotic periods of time (the months after 9-11) but those periods fade away quickly when a country as a whole is more concerned about where the cast of Jersey Shore is now and the release of the IPhone 6.

Truer words... it is incredibly sad that we have people who care more about people who don't contribute society (Kardashians, Jersey Shore, etc.) than about freedoms being infringed upon. We have people vote one way because p. diddy is endorsing him or because it's cool to vote for someone.

[MED]

I was a kid growing up when the Vietnam vets were coming home, and compared to that, things are GREAT now! I am still saddened and ashamed at what people did back then. My father is a WWII vet, and this country will never be what it was back then...NEVER!!! We live in a country of entitlements and victims along with a good dose of political correctness that drives decisions in public policy. I don't think it is as much of a lack of patriotism that is driving the budget but a push for the socialist agenda that has corrupted this country. People are fickle and they forget quickly so I have no doubt that our newest veterans will be overlooked. I was once an extremely patriotic individual, but I am not any more because of the people that are taking over this country. Our society needs to be flushed.

[Bailey Guns]

Have we lost our Patriotism?

I think you need to define "we". And then I think you'll find your questions rhetorical.