Are you an unpatriotic Homeschooler?
This one emal was from a homeschooling mom.
She was talking about being patriotic. She said that she teaches her children to love her country, but that we are here in this country for freedom. And if we require a citizen to do something (like the draft), then we are violating their rights to freedom.
She said that she is patriotic - but she really doesn't have a clue.
Who said that having freedom meant that you don't have any responsibilities? No one.
In fact, the more freedom and privelage you have, the more individual responsibility you have.
I mean really - if freedom means doing something you don't want to do or not having to do anything - then why have laws? Why have morals?....
Fortunately, our fore-fathers did not feel the same about their country. If none of them were willing to serve their country to protect their freedom, we wouldn't have it today.
And personally, in my opinion, if anyone is not willing to fight for their country when the need desperately exists, they need to move to Canada. Because they don't deserve to be an American.
- My kids are taught to be patriotic.
- They are taught to love their flag.
- They are taught how to properly pledge to their flag.
- They are taught what they flag means and represents.
- They are taught proper etiquette for care of their flag
- They are taught about communities, and freedoms, and responsibilities.
- They are taught how and why their father decided to become a member of the military and actively serve his country.
- They are taught how to care for property, respect others, and stand for what they believe in
That is being patriotic.
NOT sitting around, saying "I'm in a free country, you don't have to make me do anything I dont' want to."
How completely, utterly selfish.
Laura Bankston is author of Internationally selling Cooking with Kids Curriculum: “Homeschool Cooking in a Box� and the “Homeschool Cookbook�. She currently home schools her three children, maintains home school support websites, and manages their family-owned service business. For information on her curriculum and free home school support services, please visit http://www.homeschoolcookbook.com
Copyright 2004, Abundant Learning Publications. All Rights Reserved.
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17 Comments:
Dear Laura,
Wow! That was some letter. I completely agree with you, the only thing that bothers me about the draft is the fear that my husband would be drafted and something would happen to him. That is something that we would have to deal with if and when the time came, praying for his safety and the safety of all our troops.
I agree with you completely and I just wanted to say that I appreciated your letter. I can't see how someone could live in a free country like ours and think that that freedom didn't come with a price. The lives of many men and recently women were given to preserve that freedom. I will continue to teach patriotism to my children.
Thanks again for your letter! Sincerely, Melody
Thanks, Melody. I understand about your fears with your husband - and I was scared when my husband was Town Patrol in the Philippines. And I would be terrified to have my sons serve. But I would not want to dishonor the lives of those who paved the way for our freedom by thinking that someone in my family is "too good" to do the same.
On the other hand, I don't beleive that the government should establish a mandatory term of service for each person. I do believe that our system of voluntary military service works and works well. But I do believe that males should register and be available to serve if drafted in a serious war situation with direct threat to our country.
Right on!
Suzanne Bryant
Good for you Laura. My husband presently serves in Iraq. In order to continue the work of restoring the country and peace overseas many men are being recalled to duty, after they have already served in Iraq, Kuwait, Germany, Korea etc. I would personally like to have my husband home and safe, but he feels he should serve his country in this way. A draft helps insure we have a strong force when we need it. I don't see a draft in the near future.
In our house we are concerned that our children excercise their rights and responsibilities in this country. One of the amazing things about this country is people can feel the way "unpatriotic" does and still be very much a part of this country. In the 1960's some African American people marched so they could have the very opportunities she thinks of as bondage. I recall segragation and the first time my school was intergrated in Virginia. I remember when I was younger, it was such an honor to go into the military. Many things have changed since then some good and some bad. I only know anyone who thinks the way unpatriotic does, can quickly find themselves in a situation that can as quickly change their opinion. My Grandfather, father, uncles and many cousins have served in the military. My husband as I have said is also in the military. All of them were proud of their roles in serving our country. One of my sons will sign up for the National Guard in a few months. I am really proud of them. Their fight has kept peace that allow people to continue to take for granted their freedom. She proves that what they all fought for is working in this country. Continue to be patriotic. I will send this letter to my husband in Iraq and his friends. Let's see what they say. Thanks for your note. Forgive me if this is not very consistent. Between lines I am preparing kids for bed. We have been home from church for a short time.
Amberli
Amen girl, I agree with you 100 %. With responsibility comes privilege. Serve God and country, with joy. Wave that banner, our beautiful flag. Never be ashamed of her!!!!!
N.S.
Dear Mrs. Bankston:
I am writing as a fellow patriotic, love-of-country-teaching, military wife, homeschool mom. I am so proud of my husband who serves and has fought in four conflicts before the age of 30. He is my hero. I agree that our men should have a burning drive to defend their homes and country. I must say though, that it is my understanding that a draft is unconstitutional, and as such, there is nothing patriotic about it. I would not want to see a halfhearted military. I think men who do not want to go to war (justified war -- I'm not talking war-hungry) ought to be ashamed of themselves, but our government still does not have the right to force the issue with a draft.
I applaud your patriotism and the support you provide for your husband.
Respectfully,
Melanie
HI, Laura:
I agree. Freedom in our country is a privilege, and we have to fight to
protect it.
The flag is a symbol of our country that many have died protecting. It is
easy this day and age to take that for granted.
~Pietra
AMEN, Laura!!!! I agree totally.
Penny
Great insights, Laura. Thnak you.
Nancy
Why was it nessesary to mention that they were homeschoolers??
Kim
Dear Laura,
I agree wholeheartedly with what you had to say about patriotism with one exception. I'm a Canadian. My government may make a lot of decisions that I personally do not agree with and I'm sure there are others who disagree as well. It comes across as an insult to make such generalizations. You need to be careful that you are not teaching your children to disrespect Canadians either.
Your neighbor,
Kerri
Dear Laura,
I didn't read the e-mail you speak of...therefore let me just say I agree that we should teach our children as you do about our freedom and how we got it and what it takes to keep it...on the other hand...I think we're premature in jumping to a draft right now without putting an open call to willing volunteers rather than randomly selecting inexperienced young men to go fight and it is sad but in this country there are people that would do more harm than good going in to this war when they don't think our freedom is important enough to fight for...who knows what if the threat of terrorism isn't enough for them to want to defend us...I wouldn't want them sent in because they would probably go after our good men instead of the ones causing the necessary evil of war.
I hope this helps...again...I don't know where that lady is coming from I didn't get that e-mail. Thanks for sharing with me.
Sincerely, Julie
Well, then I'm unpatriotic, because as a history teacher and a PhD candidate, I can tell you that the only war in my opinion that was justified in the last 100 years was WW2, so if a draft comes about, I will be moving out of the country with all of my children....GLADLY.
I think people are a bit confused about what patriotism is really all about. You've done a great job in this article cutting through some of the false ideas some people have about patriotism. I have been told that my desire to homeschool is unpatriotic because I'm not supporting the country's schools. As almost any homeschooler knows, homeshooling isn't about not supporting public schools, it's about a desire to give your children more than what the public schools are giving our children. Public schools have a lot of people who work hard to ensure that the nation's children are being educated.
I've also been told that my desire to be a stay at home wife and mother is unpatriotic. The reason given is that the USA is a capitalist society. Therefore, anyone who isn't out in the work force isn't contributing to the nation's economy and is unpatriotic. To use one of my grandmother's favorite words, HOGWASH!!
By supporting the family's well-being, raising children to be good citizens and stewards of the time and alents given to them, and working hard to keep the home in order so that all disorder from the "outside world"
(for lack of a better word) is more easily handled, a stay at home mom is doing a lot to contribute to the nation not only in the present but in the future when it's the children's turn to take care of this great country we live in. Unpatriotic!?! Pshaw (another one of my my grandmother's words)! If more people in this country were taking care of their families, I personally believe the USA would have a much stronger back bone. I think focusing on family values is ONE of the most patriotic things anyone can do. (There are,
of course, many others.)
Karen
Dear Laura:
We consider it an honor to have become acquainted with you and your family. Let us not ever forget "Freedom is never free!"
Thank you for all the wonderful emails we have received.
And I also want to thank you for speaking your mind.
P.S. On another note, would you have any recommendations of where one might purchase baking pans, supplies online for a discount? Trying to pinch pennies wherever we can these days.
Thank you,
Denise Graham
in California
AMEN!!!!
Deb
Thank you for this! I completely agree with you! My husband is in the Navy, as was his father and my father--both of whom served in Vietnam. My Grandfather was also in the Navy, and my husband's grandfather was in the Army and served in WWII. We are all very proud of them. Speaking of not having to do anything we don't want to--well, I certainly don't want my husband to have to leave for his six month deployments when he is out to sea--it is practically impossible to talk by phone ($1.00 per minute on a pay phone in which it seems as if the both of you are yelling into tin cans; plus there is about a 5 second delay). I thank God for e-mail nowadays, but when they are launching any attacks or missions all unnecessary communication is shut down, so all of us shoreside are left in the dark. Plus, six months out to sea is not only six months, they have work-ups to get the planes ready, which means they will be gone 6 weeks here, 2 weeks there, etc.; in short, in a four- year sea tour, they are only home about a total of one year. But these men and women have these jobs to do so that we can sleep safely at night, we can go to church, we can choose to educate our children at home, without fear of persecution and death. It used to be considered honorable to serve your country, especially this great United States of America that we live in. What happened to patriotism?
I apologize for this reply being so long, but as you can see, I have a huge soft spot for servicemembers. Take care!
God bless,
Jessica
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