by Lisa Morgan

Created on: May 30, 2009   Last Updated: June 02, 2009

The definition of patriotism has undergone many changes in our country since its birth. It has meant many different things to many different people, dependent on age, social standing, immigrant status, and an infinite number of other factors, but one constant has been, as each generation ages, there seems to be a general head-shaking as they look at the newer generation and discuss what patriotism means to this new, youthful breed of Americans.

During World War II the general population made many sacrifices in their individual support of the war efforts, voluntarily following meatless, wheat-less and sweet-less days. They sold bonds and made blanket squares; women rolled up their pantyhose and sent them off to the war effort and then stepped into jobs that had, up until that time, been the province of men. As a nation, people stood shoulder to shoulder with their fighting men and sacrificed right along with them; men volunteered in droves to the armed forces and even fibbed on their ages so they could join early; women stepped up and kept the home fires burning for their men and for their country. During that time, this was the definition of patriotism, the gold standard for all their actions when it came to how they perceived themselves and their country.

Following WWII our country engaged in two very unpopular police actions, drafting young American's to fight for ideals not shared by all or understood by many. It became a confusing time in our country, when the perception of what it meant to be a good patriot came under intense scrutiny. In this confusing time our soldiers were demeaned and defiled by many in our country; it was a bad time to stand up for our flag and our country, and those that did were often subjected to verbal or physical attacks. The introduction of television added to the general confusion, when you could see men die on the evening news, which brought these wars home in a way never before dreamed of. Draftees came home to ridicule and abuse from the American public and still carry the scares of these wars and their return home to this day.

Then our country was attacked on 9/11 and a whole new set of principles were erected to define what patriotism meant in our country. This was a whole new concept, different from any other period in our history; we were not asked as a nation to sacrifice; we were asked to spend; we were asked not to change, not to question the actions of our government or its representatives, to accept intrusions

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