Are you a patriot? Over the years I've heard so many people tell me that they're a patriot, and that they would kill and die for their country, however, their meaning of 'patriot' seems to elude me. So, what's a 'patriot'?

By definition, a 'patriot' is "a proud supporter or defender of his or her country and its way of life" (Encarta on-line dictionary). If this is the case, what was a 'patriot' in America 235 years ago? The united States didn't become a Republic until 1789 - after the American Revolutionary War.

Since the "founding fathers" of America were British subjects, and the united States hadn't become a nation yet, the Encarta definition of 'patriot' does not apply. If the Encarta definition of ‘patriot’ does not apply, then wouldn’t a more proper definition be “a proud supporter or defender of an ideal”? Every soldier/sailor in the military is a patriot. They don't necessarily fight for the defense of their nation, but rather for someone else's ideals ("government policy").

So, to all those who call themselves "patriots", I guess my question would have to be: Are you willing to give up your God-given rights in exchange for government-granted civil liberties, or are you willing to fight and die for someone else's ideals? Granted, answering such a question could be construed as treason (and/or “terrorism” since the word 'terrorism' is the new “buzz” word), but one man's "traitor" is another man's "freedom fighter" (truth is a matter of perception).

By U.S. government standards, the "founding fathers" of America (George Washington, Andrew Jackson, Thomas Jefferson, etc.) were all terrorists. Furthermore, each and every one of them committed treason against the British crown with full knowledge that, if caught, they could be tried and summarily executed for high crimes against the King.

The "patriot" of today (“flag wavers” and the rest of the propaganda-programmed imbeciles) seems to lack the moral fiber and mental fortitude to be a 'patriot'. Most are not willing to lay their lives, homes, property, and even their family's safety "on the line" for an ideal - even if the ideal is better than the tyranny that they are currently living under. As such, these "patriots" are not 'patriots' at all, but rather spineless cowards - quick to open their mouth and babble about the way things are, or how they think things should be, but will not get off their asses to organize, communicate, rally behind, or even give a show of force for any cause that might actually effect change in fear of repercussions.

Death is inevitable. A person's life should not be measured by how long they lived, or even how they lived, but rather by what they contributed to future generations that will follow. The great American patriots in our history books not only gave us their lives, but also an ideal. The men have long since gone, but the ideal still remains (subverted, however, by greed, corruption, government propaganda, ‘Executive Orders’, and government-sponsored public schools).

“It is lamentable, that to be a good patriot one must become the enemy of the rest of mankind." – Voltaire