A Patriotic person (Research Paper Sample)

Patriotism is one of the less discussed topics in academia but one with a profound impact on human behavior as well as a nation’s social, economic, and political stability. Unlike most other human traits, patriotism is not innate or inborn, but a personality one acquires through learning and socialization. For instance, children are trained from a young age to love and serve their country, which most people demonstrate through sports, arts (music), military service or political leadership. Overall, a patriotic person is one who is committed to serve their country, prioritizes national interests over personal ones, and is willing to sacrifice one’s life for their country.
A patriotic person is committed to serve his or her country in various capacities. Public service workers such as doctors and teachers demonstrate this aspect of patriotism by providing services that benefit fellow citizens. Admittedly, it is arguable that such workers get paid for their services. While this observation is true, there are workers who choose to work in their mother countries instead of relocating to another country where they will enjoy higher wages (Harris, 2018). For instance, an American IT expert may earn more if they relocated to a Gulf country, where their services are highly sought and rewarded. However, many choose to remain at home due to their sense of patriotism. This habit is also seen among sports people who choose to represent their countries even when they can earn more money by switching citizenship. In this regard, patriotic people are committed to serve their country even if it may cost then financially.
Secondly, people demonstrate patriotism through their willingness to sacrifice personal interests for the public good. Individuals show this quality when they embrace values such as honesty and fairness in their work, for example, by refusing to take bribes or engaging in corruption. Since corruption affects a nation’s economic and social development – for instance by diverting funds meant to build schools and hospitals – a patriotic person would prioritize the public’s interests above the desire to amass wealth (New York University, 2016). Thus, people who shun corruption are patriotic because they love their fellow citizens more than their personal interests. More importantly, it shows that the person is more interested in their country’s economic and social progress than their opportunity to accumulate personal riches.
Lastly, individuals show patriotism through their willingness to sacrifice their life for the security of their country. This aspect of patriotism is best exemplified by military servicemen who go to war to protect their nations against foreign threats. The Shape of Water, a movie about the Cold War between the United States and Russia, portrays this type of patriotism through a spy who refused to betray his countrymen, even at the pain of death. When caught and