I THINK AMERICANS ARE ONLY PATRIOTIC WHEN ITS TRENDY
Why I am Suspicious of Patriots
by Kristen B., of Farmington, NH

What is a Patriot? According to the Webster's Fourth Edition Dictionary, a Patriot is one who loves and loyally or zealously supports one's own country. But is Patriotism a feeling of pride you get? Or is Patriotism a fashion statement?

Pre-9/11 America was not a society that talked much about patriotism.Yes, there were still those few who pledged to die for America, people hoisting their American flags proudly on their flag poles, and those, who, every day recited the Pledge of Allegiance faithfully.

I can remember September 11th like it was yesterday. We abandoned our studies and watched the TV as the planes were shown in slow motion slamming into the buildings. We witnessed with horror as the bodies fell from the upper floors of the World Trade Center, and then as the WTC itself collapsed. I was shaking all over and close to tears, wearing my brown tie-dyed tee shirt with an American flag on it, clutching my star necklace which was red, white, and blue. Some cynics treated this event like some barbaric form of entertainment, while I, like many others, saw a national tragedy. I cried all night because I was so afraid. It broke my heart to hear stories of frantic families, to see images of them waving pictures of their loved ones. It was a very hard time for everyone, and flags flew everywhere, at half-staff.

But, nevertheless, life must go on.

Not a week later, I went shopping for some new clothes at a local mall. I walked in, and the first things that hit me were "God Bless America" banners. Understandable, we were all greiving. Then, stores began to advertise in red, white, and blue colors. Coincidence. Then, American flag stickers, car antenna flags, decals, tee shirts, hats, coffee mugs, pens, bumper stickers, banners, messages scribbled on cars in spray chalk and people dying their hair--ugh--red, white and blue. Not to mention commercials, magazine covers, songs, and other forms of media who didn't want us to get over this emotional tragedy...they wanted to cash in.

This tragedy, where thousands of people were murdered---their bones crushed, their bodies burned, or lungs deprived of oxygen-was being used by sleazy companies to make money. To them, what happened on September 11th was nothing more than a money-making event where they supplied the souvenirs. What came next was obvious-- people would buy this stuff. Not only were the companies cashing in, it was now fashionable to recognize 9/11 on your body, on your belongings, or elsewhere.

Next, as 9/11 faded into history, the clothes were forgotten in closets, the stickers were peeled off, the magazines thrown away and the music taken off the air. And yes--hair was dyed back to its original color. These fair-weather "Patriots" were patriots until a new style came out that eclipsed the Pro-American sentiment. They went back to their normal lives, forgetting Patriotism because it was no longer trendy.

Nowadays,we call these people "posers."

I resent that time in history because it seemed so many Americans were only Patriotic when it was involved in some sort of trend. This demonstrated what a materialistic society we can be. When I would meet one of these "Patriots" I would be suspicious of their motives. Did they love their country, or were they just doing it because it was trendy?