A BLOG: WHAT DOES IT MEANS TO BE PATRIOTIC?

 “Freedom is the open window through which pours the sunlight of the human spirit and human dignity.” This is a very popular saying from Herbert Hoover that reflected the meaning of Independence Day directly and it shows the significance of achieving the country’s freedom in order to get better lives. Even though that particular country has successfully achieved its freedom, the community or the society itself must have high patriotism in themselves as a sign of respect towards their country. So what is the exact meaning of the word “patriotic”? Patriotism refers to showing or having great pride and love for one’s country. The zealously and unselfishly devoted to the service of one’s country. But how do we show ourselves as patriotic people? There are more ways to express ourselves as patriotic people than just a post on social media.

              DISCOVER ABOUT THE HISTORY

Discovering more about the history of our country is one of the famous ways to disseminate patriotism in ourselves. As it is easy to access nowadays to get any information on the Internet about our country, thus people will use this opportunity to search and read informative information to get to know their country in deep. Discovering more about our leaders, landmarks, traditions, films, literature, and culture will enable us to become better citizens. I could say that based on my experience being a Malaysian since I was born, I realized that there is a plethora of knowledge about Malaysia I did not know in the first place. Being a Malaysian without knowing the full history of my own country just does not make any sense. That was when I decided to start searching and reading about the history of Malaysian either on the Internet or in books. After knowing thoroughly about Malaysian history, the feeling of responsibility to protect my country urges in me. This experience really has taught me the significance to have patriotism in ourselves as it will not benefit to the country but also the citizens' prosperity.

              SHOWING RESPECT

Every country has its own respective identity that is usually represented in the form of a symbol. For instance, Malaysia has a designated national flag, “Jalur Gemilang”, a national coat of arms, a national flower, and a national anthem “Negaraku”. These symbol of identity that represents a country must be interpreted and respected by the citizens of the country. Not only respecting these national identities, but it is a common courtesy. But how do we show the respect needed? I often see parents teaching their children to stand up straight when the national anthem is enshrined. Teachers also make some contributions to developing students’ character by inserting some patriotic elements during classes. By doing this, it helps to nurture responsibilities and morals to become an individual that can contribute to the country.

In conclusion, there are many more ways to express ourselves as patriotic people. Every country has positive and negative qualities, and loving a nation does mean we should ignore its shortcomings. It’s perfectly acceptable to love our country for its cultural heritage, successes, and unique character despite its shortcomings by emphasizing the positive and working towards a better future for all who call this nation home.