What does it mean to be patriotic to you?

I'm just wondering :)
and if you cant come up with the words .. use a favorite quote on the subject :)

To see all Americans properly fed, sheltered and clothed, with access to quality education, safe working conditions, medical care and treatment, and a healthy environment for our children & their children to grow up in.

To demand all in America's government abide by the US laws and US Constitution and that America is governed for the people BY THE PEOPLE.

To hold sacred the TRUST our SOLDIERS put into our hands to ensure they are NEVER EVER sent to war to kill and be killed, to wound and be wounded, to suffer the rest of their lives mentally, emotionally & physically, for ANYTHING LESS THAN THE VERY LAST RESORT.

the constitution of the US against all enemies foreign and domestic. The current republican leadership does not measure up as they are idealogically opposed to parts of the constitution and bill of rights.

past four years by IMHO domestic enemies (the enemy within). Yet the people, in incomprehensible numbers, clamored for "four more years, four more years." We now have met the enemy and it is us (we the people).

Schopenhauer got it right.

So did Mark Twain:

Man is the only Patriot. He sets himself apart in his own country, under his own flag, and sneers at the other nations, and keeps multitudinous uniformed assassins on hand at heavy expense to grab slices of other people's countries, and keep them from grabbing slices of his. And in the intervals between campaigns he washes the blood of his hands and works for "the universal brotherhood of man"- with his mouth.
- "The Lowest Animal"

I truly feel that patriotism is being involved. Patriotism isn't about waving a flag or parroting spin, it is about actively learning about my country, it is about being part of the entire process of government.

Patriotism is about working to help my country be the best that it possibly can--it is about working to see that ALL my country's citizens have the best possible life--the best opportunity to live the ideals and dreams conceived by our founders.

Patriotism is also about being willing to take the personal heat for dissension if I feel the government has turned in a direction that is contrary to the common good. I can not call myself a patriot unless I am willing to defend our national ideals inside the country as well as outside it.


Laura

which has served us fairly well for the last 200 or so years.