Are you patriotic? What does being patriotic mean to you?
Yes. Remembering and valuing humanity is every body’s right and obligation to uphold. Being patriotic means loving one’s country but not necessarily believing it is perfect.
Showing great love, devotion and loyal support for one’s country involves a sense of attachment to a nation’s culture, people and values, often accompanied by a willingness to sacrifice for its well-being.
The way to show support for one’s country ranges from a simple obligation like voting to a heavy duty service like joining the army to protect and defend the country against any threat of violence and foreign invasion.
The history of forming the first era of nations is traced back to the Noah’s time after the flood. Noah’s descendants (i.e. close relatives) wanted to build a city with a tower that would reach the heavens (and that was the human acts of pride—the queen of all vices). God scattered them over all the earth and confused their language so that they would not understand each other (Genesis Chapter 10 & 11).
Sin continues to play its role and nations cannot coexist in peace for long. It is in every nation’s interest and right to protect its sovereignty and its people’s right of enjoyment of life. It is also in the rightful duty of its people to support their country in serving the national interest, in upholding integrity and righteousness, and in bringing peace to the world.
In this sense, the Chinese Confucian teaching on a four-pronged approach——cultivating self, regulating family, governing the country, and bringing peace to the world——does not only work nationally but also universally.
✨✨💖 ~
Genesis 13:8
“So Abram said to Lot, ‘Let’s not have any quarreling between you and me, or between your herders and mine, for we are close relatives.’”
Psalm 133
“How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard, down on the collar of his robe. It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.”
en yan hua fang 