What Is A Patriot?

The Patriot
By Jeff Senters

This is the first installment of an ongoing column dedicated to the voice of the enlightened Patriots in this country. Defining a Patriot should be easy, but lately some have tried to redefine it.
A Patriot is someone who believes that the forefathers of this country laid a foundation of traditional values that produced the greatest and most successful society known to man. A society built on freedom, liberty, and independence; with a moral compass based on the fear of God and the truth of the Holy Bible. Despite what some would claim, this country was founded on Judeo-Christian values.
A true Patriot believes this foundation should never be compromised, but is beginning to realize that over the last few decades it has been shaken and sometimes completely ignored. The entire culture of this country has been altered and is headed in a direction that could permanently reshape our country into resembling the very cultures that our forefathers fled from.
Our forefathers fled to get away from government monarchy and dictatorship, to get away from taxation, Marxism, Communism and Socialism, and to get away from religious oppression. They set out to create a country where every individual had the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of prosperity and happiness; based on opportunity, hard work, and the respect of each other’s individual freedom.
These are the core beliefs of a Patriot. These traditions have nothing to do with race, ethnicity, religious doctrine, political affiliation, hierarchy or genealogy. Everyone except the Native Americans were immigrants who wanted a fresh start. The society that developed had a common moral fiber and sense of community that created a nation of revolutionary leaders. The best term to describe those early pioneers is “Patriots.”
They would not only stand up and fight for their freedoms, but would also fight for the freedom of others. They embraced the idea that we all may have differences, but our common ground is worth fighting for.
They voted from their conscious and their heart, regardless of the letter behind the politician’s name. They supported their political leaders based on character, not because they were characters. Look at our leaders today, do they fit that mold?
We have leaders today who say it is our “Patriotic Duty” to pay more taxes. They think those who produce more should give more to help those less fortunate. Using their profits to provide economic growth, commerce and jobs is not enough, they should be willing to sacrifice even more for the common good. That is redistribution of wealth in its simplest form.
How about the leader whose very name conjures up images of a purple dinosaur driving an Oscar Meyer Weiner mobile? He is quick to point at others, because he knows his involvement in past decisions undeniably contributed to the recent collapse of the financial markets. Rather than apologize, he does what most politicians do, place blame on others to detract attention away from himself. We need to uncover his tracks and put him on a stick at the next bonfire roast. That would be the Patriotic thing to do.

Jeff Senters
A Modern Patriot