Parade Day

 Fourth of July. The most patriotic day of the year. Or at least in my opinion. For most of my life I have been in the parade on the fourth of July. I have danced in it, drove in it, and biked in it. However as a kid it really never occurred to me why we would celebrate. I hated fireworks, because they scared me and honestly I didn't enjoy the 4th of July. We would have a party at my friend's house, and then we would go home. The 4th of July never changed the next day, so I didn’t see it as a big holiday. Just a big walk. 

Then as school went on I learned more about how we fought to be where we are now, and I learned more about other countries as well. I learned that other countries don’t have the rights to be free, or have the freedom of speech. They get discriminated against and hated even by their own government. America may have its bad traits, we’ve had our bad times with racism, sexism, and all the other things like that. However it is the best country. We have a good economy, we have rights that other countries could only dream of, so we truly are the best country. 

I am patriotic because of my freedom of speech, the right to your own religion, the right to your own body, and the right to live. Patriotism means to me all the things that we should be grateful for. I’m grateful for shelter, food and clothes, but I am also thankful for friends, family, people that love me. This country is that. This country is a home for me and a home for others. It is love, it is heart, it is a place where people can feel safe and not discriminated against. 

The textbook meaning of  patriotism is, “the quality of being patriotic; devotion to and vigorous support for one's country.” However, the meaning of patriotism to me is the love of family, friends, and home. A place or a country that you can feel safe and loved in. America is that for me. A big home. So due to my study and my growth, the 4th of July is no longer a big walk, but a big celebration of how far we have come.