PATRIOTS, SERVANTS OF A NATION
by Christin Jessen

Patriotism is a love of one's country, a devotion to the good of one's nation, and a willingness to serve said nation. Patriots are not blind followers heeding the words of the prominent and the proud. They have minds of their own, they think, judge, weigh their options and decide what is best for their nation. One's nation is one's family. Nations and families both have faults, which are acknowledged, accepted, and fixed through the efforts of their members. Patriots are the repairmen of a nation.

Patriots embody all the admirable qualities of their nation at their best and are still decent human beings at their worst. They realize that love of one's country without devotion is a rather useless emotion. Patriots live, breathe and die for their country and its ideals. They serve to keep their country strong, healthy, and free, allowing their country to be guided by the will of many, the people, not the will of one or some. Not all or even most patriots are heroes or saints, they are human, sometimes mistaken and misguided. Patriots are guided by love of one's people, culture, and nation and by the hope of an improved future for all.

Patriotism is not a negative emotion. It does not encourage hatred of other nations and peoples; it encourages civic duty, kindness, responsibility, and community awareness. A good patriot puts his country and community first, serving to uphold the ideals of his country and to abolish any deterioration within his nation. Drug use, unnecessary violence, poverty, starvation, pollution, illiteracy, etc. are the decay of a nation. Patriots combat such evils every day, fighting to improve their country for every one. Patriots show care for people of all races, all religions, all lands, they are not limited by hatred, bigotry, or willful blindness. Respect, devotion, love, loyalty, and duty mold the average citizen into a patriot.

Patriotism is considered by many to just be pride in one's nation, however, pride is a wasted emotion if action is not taken as well to serve one's nation. Actions such as, flying the flag, wearing "patriotic" colors and singing the national anthem are nice but no cigar. When one only makes a shallow attempt to serve one's nation or show loyalty, that is not patriotism it is vainglory, pretense, showmanship, pride.

Soldiers, statesmen, policemen, and civic leaders are often considered our great patriots but I consider the little people to be our greatest patriots. The teachers, the community leaders, the environmentalists, the parents who instill the important values of loyalty, duty, love, freedom, forethought, consideration, honesty, morals, and hard work are the real patriots. They raise a nation's children, shaping the backbone of their country, creating the patriots of tomorrow.

Today's patriots are not sheep to be led, they are intelligent freethinking individuals who consider what they feel is best for their nation and try to enable such action. Although the opinions of patriots on how to enrich their countries may differ, all patriots have their nation's and people's best interests at heart. They don't pay lip service to patriotism; they embody patriotism. Forever striving to improve their nations, patriots are eager to help any and all in need out of love of their country. Patriotism enables nations like America, to continue to exist.

PeprallyUSA.com 2003 Essay Contest Semi-Finalist Christin Jessen, a senior at Romeoville High School, Bolingbrook, IL.

Christin L. Jessen is seventeen. On June 8, 2003, she graduated in the top 10 percent of her class at Romeoville High School. She writes:

"I live with my mother, a little brother who is twelve, two dogs, two cats, two guinea pigs, and one cocketiel. Most of my extended family lives close by so we visit at my grandparents house at least once a month.

"I am a Prairie State Scholar in Reading and Social Science and an Illinois State Scholar. I was a member of the Science Club, Interact, the National Honor Society, and Senior Council while in high school. I will attend Southern Illinois University at Carbondale in the fall and plan on majoring in Human Nutrition,specializing in Dietetics.

"My hobbies include drawing, reading, gardening, yoga, crocheting, making Ukrainian eggs, cooking, baking, and sculpting."

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