This series of posts will focus on what patriotism means to people who consider themselves patriotic. For example, what beliefs, perceptions, principles, values, ideals, actions and emotions come to mind when they feel the swell of patriotism or explain why they consider themselves patriotic. I will not be defining patriotism, but will approach this project in the spirit of a descriptive dictionary, which:
“…aims to describe and indicate how words are actually used by…speakers and writers. Generally, the descriptive approach to lexicography does not dictate how words should be used or set forth rules of "correctness," unlike the prescriptive approach... A purely prescriptive dictionary would disregard usage of the living language and instead rely on ideas of "correctness" set forth in "rules" that the prescriptivist imagines should be imposed upon the language.” Merriam-Webster Dictionary.
Here’s what I hope to cover:
Patriotic Thoughts and Feelings, Part 1: Love of Country
Patriotic Thoughts and Feelings, Part 2: Pride in Country
Patriotic Thoughts and Feelings, Part 3: Belief in Country
Patriotic Thoughts and Feelings, Part 4: Gratitude
Patriotic Thoughts and Feelings, Part 5 Struggle and Redemption
Patriotic Thoughts and Feelings, Part 6: Threat
Patriotic Thoughts and Feelings, Part 7: Allegiance
Patriotic Thoughts and Feelings, Part 8: Unity and Purpose
Patriotic Thoughts and Feelings, Part 9: Together, Bad and Good
Patriotic Thoughts and Feelings: Part 10: Place
Patriotic Thoughts and Feelings: Part 11: People
Patriotic Thoughts and Feelings, Part I2: Values and Sacred Principles
Patriotic Thoughts and Feelings, Part I3: Collective Memory
Patriotic Thoughts and Feelings, Part I4: A Greater Good
Patriotic Thoughts and Feelings, Part 15: The American Project
Patriotic Thoughts and Feelings, Part 16: The American Experiment
Patriotic Thoughts and Feelings, Part17: The American Promise
Patriotic Thoughts and Feelings, Part 18: The American Achievement
Patriotic Thoughts and Feelings, Part 19: American Exceptionalism
Patriotic Thoughts and Feelings, Part 20: Other Peoples, Other Places
Not in one swell swoop, but off and on over the next year.