Remember September 11th, 2001, it was a day that would go down in infamy. Just say, \"September 11th\" or \"9/11\", and people will know what you are referring to. It was an extremely bitter/sweet time - naturally more bitter than sweet. I say sweet because it took such a dark day and string of events for people to show their true colors: Red, White, and Blue. Everybody was joining the military the same week September 11th happened. Musicians were competing to see who could create the most patriotic song. \'I\'m Proud To Be An American\' won, and was played at every football game the following year. Every sport game that week shut down. Every single American neighbor loved each other, and all wanted to literally bomb the hell out of every terror group and country in the the Middle east. ... and once we went to war, everyone who could did their part for the war effort. ... and those who never really cared about their country found a brand new appreciation for it.
I start my piece with this unusual paragraph because 2001 through about 2008 was my generation of witnessing true American patriotism. A while after that, the sense of patriotism was still there, but it lingered. Clearly, people had returned to there normal lives, and there were either other tragic world events happening since 9/11, or people just didn\'t have the time to care anymore. George Bush\'s second term was over, and we the people, by now more divided, received \'our first black president\', Barack Obama. The times were changing, and that time in my generation was over.
I look at the world today (specifically this nation). Then I reflect on myself. In 2009 I voted for Barack Obama. Then in 2013, I did not have a chance to vote for complicated reasons, but I was not rooting for Barack Obama. In 2016 and in 2020 I voted for Mr. Trump. The point that I am making is that I did not choose to become a democrat despite the pressure simply because of where I live, or my race, or age. As such for being a republican. Despite the pressure, I did not choose to become a republican simply because I am a Christian. That is not what voting is about. Voting is not about what you want to change for your sake, or making history. You must look at the big picture. Voting is about choosing what is best for your country: domestic and foreign. So as I said earlier, I look at this nation today, and with the exception of those serving or who served in the military, the parents of those serving in the military, and those small very-hard-to-find patriotic towns, I notice that very few people are proud to be an American, or as I said, they just don\'t care.
I understand that as times change, things change with it, and some things go away. It is almost inevitable. Notice how the sixties were different than than the WWII era, and how the seventies were different than the sixties, and the nineties from the Regan era, and now 2020 from 2001. Still, I believe that patriotism, that is one\'s love for their country, is one of the very few things that should never go away. It is something sacred that one should cherish, hold dear to their heart, and take it to their grave. Yet, now I read and see pictures of mass shooters who sport the American flag. I see on the news how skinhead groups, and people who call themselves black lives matter that shoot at police officers call themselves Americans. I hear of people bashing the president openly and publicly, followed by the topic of, \'how we don\'t live in a free country\'.
Sigh, but I digress.
Every once in a blue moon, I reflect a bit, and think of the love that I have for my country, and wonder, \'What is the point? Why do I love this country so much? It most certainly does have it\'s faults\". Then the answer comes to me. I love this country for every thing it has done for me, and because I am from here. I love this country, America, because of all the freedoms it let me enjoy, and all the countless chances that it has given to me. As a fairly young country compared to others, we go through our growing pains. Still, if it is hard for you to find an appreciation for this country, then look at the older countries all over the world who are suffering. Ask one of the older immigrants who have truly suffered, and they will tell you the greatness of this country.