Defining a Patriot

1. A person who loves, supports, and defends his or her country and its interests with devotion.

September it seems is a month for reflecting on the War on Terror and the inevitable changes it has brought to our country. At times 9-11 seems so long ago, I was an underclassman in high school, my brothers were three, and some of my younger students had not yet been born. (My oldest student turned one the day after.) Yet it is still all around me, in the people I know who are off fighting in two wars, in the immediate and swift response to anything that happens with in a radius of the Hill, and in the news.



2. Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism

I was fortunate to have excellent history teachers in high school and one of them insisted that each and every one of us read the Patriot Act as it was signed into law (complete with gigantic margins). We were young and didn't understand much but we questioned it and debated for a while before we stored it away and moved on, but I have actually read it. Today, the AP released an article announcing that President Obama supports some extensions to USA PATRIOT ACT which would last 10 years. The text of the bill is here, but an excellent understandable explanation is given by Rep Smith (R- Texas) when he introduces the bill here.

I'll be interested to see where this goes especially with one of the most controversial provisions about libraries and such seems to have administration support for renewal.

3. It is the soldier, not the reporter, who has given us the freedom of the press. It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech. It is the soldier, not the agitator, who has given us the freedom to protest. It is the soldier who salutes the flag, serves beneath the flag, whose coffin is draped by the flag, who gives that protester the freedom to abuse and burn that flag.”~Zell Miller

I wanted to know a little more of the administrations thoughts then was released in the article so I went looking on www.whitehouse.gov. I didn't find what I was looking for, but I did find this:

WASHINGTON – On Thursday, September 17th, the President will award Sergeant First Class Jared C. Monti, U.S. Army, the Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Sergeant First Class Monti will receive the Medal of Honor posthumously for his heroic actions in combat in Afghanistan. Then-Staff Sergeant Monti displayed immeasurable courage and uncommon valor - eventually sacrificing his own life in an effort to save his comrade. Sergeant First Class Monti’s parents, Paul Monti and Janet Monti, will join the President at the White House to commemorate their son’s example of selfless service and sacrifice.
(From here.)

I happen to remember from the wonderful exhibit at the Museum of American History that there have been few medals of Honor awarded for the Wars in Afghanistan and Iraq (the most were given during the Civil War) and there is a group of Veterans advocating for that to change so I found this interesting and worth mentioning.



4. “A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government.”~Edward Abbey

I think I like this definition best of all. Enough said.