Patriot Games

Patriotism, by all accounts, has many different forms, each aiming to promote a sense of pride in one’s country. We see it everyday as we pass buildings waving the American flag, which is a great representation of perseverance and triumph throughout the past 200 plus years.  We may overlook it as we pass by, but it stands as a constant reminder to all of us of the hard work and progress of past generations.

It can also be seen in the hearts and minds of those in the armed forces, as they fight for the freedoms many of us take for granted. Although some may not agree with our presence abroad, these individuals still sacrifice their lives for these people with opposing mind-sets. 

As the Winter Olympics come to a close, one can also pull the ideas of patriotism from sports.

Although it may not seem as if a figure skater or bobsledding team can evoke a deep sense of caring about one’s country, in their own special way, these athletes both embody and promote patriotic ideas.

Athletes around the world converged upon the city of Vancouver, British Columbia over the last few weeks to battle for not only medals, but bragging rights as being the best in the world for the next four years.

The Olympics may not boast the script of a reality show or sarcasm of a network television program, but for those of us willing to turn on the television and watch, a certain sense of pride could be found in the hard work of our fellow Americans.

Although we lost 3 – 2 in the overtime period of the men’s hockey gold medal game against Canada, millions of Americans spent the entire game keeping everyone else on the edge of their seats, updating Facebook statuses and twitter feeds.

Sports have a way of bringing us together, and as our country’s best athletes competed against the world’s best, one could see the togetherness of those watching at home, in sports bars and in all other types of social environments.

Although having a variety of different forms, patriotism is still important and should not be overlooked.