Proud

Author's Note: This is my patriot's pen.  The theme for this year was "Are you proud of your country?"

Are you proud of your country?  Are you proud to be an American?  All Americans should be proud to be who we are, a strong country with many freedoms.  Unlike some countries where the majority of citizens are born into castes in which their lives are predetermined and there are no opportunities for advancement, we have the freedom  of choice to simply be who we want to be, and do what we want to do our entire lives.  In these caste systems, people have to marry certain people and can only work in certain jobs, but in America, you have the freedom to choose all of these.   Also, we Americans have the freedom of speech, even if it is in disagreement with our country.  In some countries, one can be jailed for doing that.

The United States not only has many freedoms, but they also protect freedoms throughout the world. We look after countries that aren’t as fortunate as we are.  In both World Wars, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War, America helped to protect human rights.  Also, Americans are the first to come to the aid of countries in need around the world, whether it is Thailand after the tsunami, or Haiti after the devastating earthquake.

Americans should not only be proud of their freedoms, but we should also be proud of our government.  In my opinion, a democracy is the best form of government a country can have for many reasons.  According to dictionary.com, a democracy is defined as “a government by the people”, in which our government is based.  In our government, men and women have the right to vote for our leaders.  Also, almost everyone has the opportunity to hold office or even be the president.  In some countries, people are born into the role of the leader.  In other countries, people are governed by dictators.  With our example, look at what is happening around the Middle East in places like Egypt and Libya, where citizens have risen up and replaced the dictators in their quest for democracy.

The United States, in my opinion, is the strongest country in the world.  This is because of all of its freedoms, its ability to protect freedoms throughout the world, and its democratic government.  So, when I am asked if I am proud of my country, my answer is a definite yes!