Patriotism is defined as loyalty, pride or fervent love of one's country. Sometimes the definition includes allegiance to its government and institutions.

For Americans, three decades of relative peace followed by the attacks on September 11 have refocused our attention on an idea to which many of us had grown indifferent. But in the aftermath of attacks on our own soil in which almost 3,000 lives were lost, we're struggling once again with patriotism and what it means to us in the 21st century.

Revisit American history

Displaying the flag or wearing red, white and blue have become popular since 9-11, and both are simple ways to show pride in our nation, first conceived with the following words:

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."
- The Declaration of Independence July 4, 1776

But the founding fathers had greater responsibilities in mind when they sought to build a new republic. "The basis of our political system is the right of the people to make and to alter their constitutions of government," declared George Washington in his farewell address, September 17, 1796.

And others wrote about America's experiment with government by the people.

"What then is the American, this new man? . . . He is an American, who, leaving behind him all his ancient prejudices and manners, receives new ones from the new mode of life he has embraced, the new government he obeys, and the new rank he holds. He becomes an American by being received in the broad lap of our great Alma Mater. Here individuals of all nations are melted into a new race of men, whose labors and posterity will one day cause great changes in the world."
- Michel Guillaume Jean de Crevecoeur from Letters from an American Farmer

These new manners included democracy, freedom and the rule of law. And the founding fathers did their best to provide the framework in our Constitution and Bill of Rights. Yet they realized these new freedoms required citizens to perform certain duties and to surrender certain rights to vest their government with the powers to function.

Patriots recognize citizenship's duties

Possibly our most basic duty, and a patriotic act in and of itself, is voting. Our government does not just encourage participation; it is the key to our existence as a democracy. As citizens, we have a duty to select our government.

But the responsibility doesn't end with our vote. It is also our responsibility to form and express opinions about the operation of that government; to participate in the political process. As Teddy Roosevelt once said, "Patriotism means to stand by the country. It does not mean to stand by the President or any other public official save exactly to the degree in which he himself stands by the country."

For our government, which derives its power from the people, can only prosper as long as its people carry out their responsibilities. We all have a role to play.

Perhaps Abraham Lincoln described it best in his address to the 166th Ohio regiment on Aug. 22, 1864.

"I am a living witness that any one of your children may look to come here as my father's child has. It is in order that each of you may have through this free government which we have enjoyed, an open field and a fair chance for your industry, enterprise and intelligence: that you may all have equal privileges in the race of life, with all its desirable human aspirations. It is for this the struggle should be maintained, that we may not lose our birthright. . . . The nation is worth fighting for, to secure such an inestimable jewel."

Explore patriotism with the following resources:

Patriotic symbols and clip art

HumanityQuest.com
These art ideas use the theme of patriotism.

TeacherVision.com
Find more patriotic art activities.

Midge Frazel web page
This is all you really need -- vast and interesting. It even has music, tolerance, and holiday resources. Thank you, Midge.