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Today I came across one of my old CD's, the soundtrack for the Civil War Documentary by Ken Burns. It is an assortment of various Civil War era songs and hymns. However, when I came across the letter written by Sullivan Ballou to his wife, it drove me to tears. For those who are not familiar with the letter, Major Ballou speaks of his anguish and pain as he faced the possibility of no longer being able to return to his family. However, he also spoke of his great love of country that was irresistibly pulling him towards the battlefield to serve his duty. Listening to those powerful words drove me to reflect on my own feelings to my country. Those who know me at a personal level are well aware of my strong opposition to many injustices and contradictions contained in our country's foreign policy. However, many would be surprised that these critical feelings are not driven by a lack of patriotism but rather by its abundance. My love of country is deep and selfless. I believe in the goodness and greatness of America. It is this love of country that propels my interest in politics and inspires my critique of society. I have been reflecting on the role of patriotism through political dissent. Just as, in a just war, a patriot is bound to serve their country by taking up arms. In an unjust war, a patriot is bound to reject policies of error, and seek to guide their nation back to the path of righteousness. One has to keep in mind that America's constant progress has been crafted not only by those who have served the government, but also by those who have stood up against the injustices committed by their government. We are blessed to live in a country that provides a system and opportunity to affect change without losing political stability. However, political dissent is a crucial catalyst of that change. Only through self-criticism and the perpetual endeavor of perfecting the imperfect, can America continually thread its path towards becoming that beacon of hope that inspires so many around the world. I do believe in American exceptionalism. Not because I believe America is superior to all other nations, nor do I believe Americans are inherently better people. I believe America is exceptional because she has proven adept at transforming herself and demonstrating a willingness to confront ugly realities in order to bring herself closer to the lofty ideals by which she was founded. I believe in America's greatness, not because America is perfect but because America is continually correcting its imperfections. Bill Clinton once said that "There is nothing wrong with America that cannot be fixed by what is right about America". I believe in those words, and in that spirit, completely. Just looking at the great progress that America has made in just the past fifty years, how our society has changed and adapted to these changes, it truly makes me feel proud of our country. As a patriot, I will continue identifying where our nation has erred, and where it can be improved. That is my duty as a citizen, and in the face of unjust policies carried out in the name of my country, a true patriot cannot do any less. Let me end this blog with a link to the Sullivan Ballou letter, enjoy and reflect: http://youtube.com/watch?v=7aj7Qh1Uu3w&feature=related
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So do I! There is absolutely nothing unpatriotic in pointing out current problems in shortcomings in our country. Quite the opposite, acknowledging our problems and proposing solutions is about the most patriotic thing we can do - afterall what is more patriotic then attempting to make your country a better place?