Katie Broussard
https://zeale.co/news/articles/how-to-raise-patriots
Too often in today’s climate, it can feel like a political statement to say you want to raise patriots who are proud Americans. However, I would argue this is the exact conversation and focus that our country needs right now.
I was only 5 years old when the Twin Towers were hit. In the wake of 9/11, America entered a resurgence of patriotism as we began what would be an almost decade-long war. I grew up in this great pro-America movement, where Toby Keith’s “Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue” became an anthem of my childhood. Unfortunately, this last half decade or so finds us in a very different political climate, where seldom do you find American flags waving and expressing American pride is considered a loaded statement.
As a mother of three young children, I so desperately pray that our country returns to a place where we can both recognize the flaws of our nation, and understand that its founding, its dedication to individual liberty, and its commitment to protecting the Imago Dei within each human person is worthy of celebration and protection.
Rights and responsibilities
I believe it is the responsibility of every citizen to know and love their country. Oftentimes, we enjoy the endless freedoms and gifts of this nation without stopping to recognize why they exist in the first place. The blessings we take for granted are not happenstance; they were explicitly and intentionally prepared 250 years ago by some of the most enlightened and brilliant men in history. These liberties were fought for and continually protected by the blood and sacrifice of countless men and women. It is our duty to know and understand the source of our freedom and the price paid for us to enjoy such liberties today.
However, this knowledge isn’t sufficient for us to know alone; it must be passed on to our children. We must not wait until they are in school and assume our education system will provide them with the proper understanding of our country and our liberties. And frankly, I would argue it is not their job. We as parents have the responsibility of raising our children to know their past, their history, and the source of the freedoms they enjoy. But how? It is a daunting task, but given the importance of the virtue of patriotism, it is a task of the utmost importance.
