The Definition of American Patriotism

ONE NATION

Our nation was founded by men from many nations. They came together, putting aside differences of race, color, and religion, to unite beneath the singular and powerful idea, which later became America. This unity is the foundation of America's strength, and we have shown again and again how everyone within our nation can unite to overcome adversity. Many men and women died to establish this freedom and equality, and even more have died to protect it.

So, why are so many individual groups and organizations in existence which provide services and support for people of only a specific gender, race, or religious type? These organizations fight and compete for resources, both in government recognition, as well as financial resources. This competition builds animosity between the organizations, as well between the people who belong to them, thus actually segregating the people of our nation instead of uniting them. Yes, these organizations create jobs. However, having ethnically driven, gender driven, or religiously driven organizations to have an affect upon government, government programs, and our nation's laws, is not the way towards continued equality amongst Americans.

Instead, these organizations should be solely privately funded, and create grants for people who fit their organization's criteria. These grants should help to provide the people, which they represent, the education that they need in order to perform a specific job-skill. This is enough assistance for people belonging to these organizations to provide to their members, without their members having an unfair advantage in the work-place. They should earn the job which they get hired for due to their education and work-experience, and nothing else.

The primary purpose for these organizations should be to identify and overcome particular instances of inequality based upon their organizations primary focus (gender, race, or religion). They should not be a political force, nor affect laws in any way other than identifying laws to the public which violate American equality, and helping to raise public awareness of these laws. However, seeking the creation of laws and government programs which are contrary to American equality should not be these organizations' focus.

Secondly, instead of spending money on lobbyists, publicists, and attorneys, they should invest in educators, support staff, and investigators to research and find people in their communities who need their help the most. If they spent more time on educating and training the people that their organizations represent, making them more competitive and productive in their lives and in the workplace, they would be doing a triple service to their communities.

By focusing on educating the people within their communities, they would be improving the lives of the individuals that they are representing by allowing them to find higher-paying jobs. They would be educating them to participate more in their government so that they would have a greater influence upon how they are represented, to recognize when their rights are being violated, and to know what actions to take when they are misrepresented or treated unequally. But, more importantly, they would be improving America by raising the education level and awareness of Americans!

We are one nation, and our country is measured upon the average quality of our citizens by the international community.

UNDER GOD

America has been safe harbor for people of all nations who have been oppressed. The words, "Bring us your poor, your tired, your huddled masses...", made this country famous for its ability to shine its beacon of freedom across the oceans for all to see. However, in our attempt of maintaining equality and freedom for all, we are seeing more and more allowances for newly welcomed citizens to change some of the traditions and recognitions that have been a part of the very symbol of freedom that brought them to America. Is it possible that we are sacrificing pieces of our country one at a time just to maintain popular opinion? Change for the sake of change is not necessarily change for the better.

Perhaps we need to consider the fact that there was nothing wrong with our nation in the first place. Yes, there are always those that may take offense to certain traditions within a nation. However, perhaps changing them is not the right answer. After all, if our country were so flawed to begin with, why did they choose to become Americans?

Each and every person who migrated to America came here because of the freedom, opportunities, and protection which we offered to them. So, instead of taking away or changing the Pledge of Allegiance from our public schools, perhaps they need to realize that each and every American before them has been saying those words with pride and honor long before they were born. They need to realize that the very men and women who have provided the blanket of freedom that they now find themselves enjoying, fought to defend that freedom for them to enjoy, and that their obligation to that freedom began with the Pledge of Allegiance that they said every morning in school as a child.

Perhaps each American, new and old, needs to realize that the words of our Pledge of Allegiance are the very beginning of our strengths, and have given our soldiers courage and strength to fight those who would take our freedoms and lives away. The very men and women who protect the freedoms which all Americans enjoy do not take the words "under God" as just words. It is a reminder to them, and to us, that we as a nation are building and maintaining our country as God wills. God's will... good will... good will towards men. These are the ideals which helped to unite us as a nation, and to give us the strength to face oppression. Why should these, our greatest qualities, be questioned by those of other faiths?

America was founded by Christians, "One nation, under God". We have recognized that some Americans will not be Christian. We opened our arms to all religions, and people from all nations. We did nothing in impede their ability to honor their religion in the fashion that they are accustomed. So, why do they feel the need to change the very Christian foundation that our nation was founded by? So many non-Christians are trying to get the word God removed from all things American. However, without Christianity, would we have the great and honorable United States of America that we have today?

INDIVISIBLE

America was the first country in the world to seek total equality for all citizens within its borders. We fought for years to obtain equal treatment of women, both in the government and in the workplace. We also struggled to bring equality for African Americans after years of them being oppressed through slavery. We even fought a bloody and tragic civil war to accomplish this magnificent achievement. Both of these struggles were realized, and brought our nation closer together in our unity.

Equal rights for everyone was one of our great achievements. So, why are we suddenly trying to provide unequal treatment for the very reasons that we sought equality for? Why should government provide special treatment for anyone due to race, religion, or gender? Special compensation for these attributes will only segregate the equality that we fought so hard to realize, and will build animosity amongst Americans because of the unequal treatment that they see others receiving.

We welcomed our borders to those who truly wanted to become a part of our nation. Millions of oppressed persons came to our country, became Americans, and have been contributing members to our nation's economy. However, what about those who are stealing from the rest of us? Thousands of illegal aliens sneak across our borders so that they can earn non-taxable wages, and send them back across the border to their families.

In fact, laws have been implemented in some parts of our country to help them to facilitate and to continue stealing money from hard-working Americans without contributing back by paying taxes. Banks have even offered "fee-free" programs for transfers to banking accounts in Canada and Mexico. Why are so many people in our country supporting the illegal activities of these thieves instead of working to abolish them? Again, both equality and justice are being stepped on by illegal aliens, and anyone supporting the use of illegal aliens as cheap labor in this country.

We, as a nation, have shown that we can come together during times of adversity. We have shown that in the face of danger and tyranny, we can work as one nation to overcome those challenges. However, what about the rest of the time? What about in the hours of our greatest sense of peace and prosperity? Why should our core qualities only be important during times of trial or war? I say that we should always keep our eyes upon our nation's qualities of freedom, equality, and justice. Use our common sense when we are looking at legislation that may provide an unfair or unjust advantage for others. Use common sense when it comes to fighting corruption within our own government. Use common sense period!

COMMON SENSE

Patriotism used to be as simple as freedom, equality, and justice in America; it was what made this country so great and unique compared to the rest of the world. So, why are so many of us bewildered by the actions and choices being made by our representatives?

Some American citizens are taking the changes of our government and holding them up for everyone to see. The details which so many politicians, who are supposed to be representing us, have gone out of their way NOT to show us. Are we infantile in their eyes? Do they think us incapable or ignorant? If their answer is no, then why aren't they showing us EVERYTHING that they are doing. Why do we have to find out this information from non-representatives who have taken the responsibility into their own hands to learn about, and share with the rest of us, the hidden details behind the laws that are representatives are trying to get passed.

The ONLY questions that must be answered when voting on a law for the people are:

1) Is this law in the best interest of our nation?

2) Is this law in the best interest of Americans as a whole?

3) Do the people who I represent support the change that this law will instill within our nation?

4) What can I do to educate my voters about this issue so that they will support my decision?

AMERICANS TRYING TO RAISE AMERICAN AWARENESS & TO MAKE COMMON SENSE CONTAGIOUS

Freedom For USA - This site is addressing the Health Care bills that our representatives are trying to rush through the House and the Senate, the various details with them, and how they affect us. It is also looking at the various freedoms which have been taken from Americans, or those which may be taken away in the near future if Americans do nothing and allow certain politicians to have their way. A government of the people, by the people, and for the people - that is America. If we fail to remind our representatives of this fact, then they will continue to assume that this is a government of them, by them, and for them.

Grassfire Nation - For the past ten years, "Grassfire" has come to represent the latest grassroots conservative online networking environment for Americans. Now, the expanding legacy of "Grassfire" is represented via Grassfire Nation. What is Grassfire Nation? Grassfire Nation is YOU - millions of grassroots conservatives who are fighting to defend our freedom, justice, and pursuit of happiness.