Do you believe in patriotism? Have we grown indifferent and cold to America? Unfortunately in many circles, patriotism is equated with ignorance, backwardness and stupidity. Disdain for our flag, disregard for our National Anthem and disrespect for our government officials is the order of the day. Oftentimes, those who still have feelings of love for their country have buried them because of embarrassment and timidity.

I submit to you that a lack of patriotism is a symptom of a sickness. It is fundamentally a spiritual sickness for those who smirk and sneer at our country also make light of God. People in this condition did not get this way accidentally. They are the result of a generation of pleasure — mad, egocentric parents who did not have time to instill spiritual and patriotic values in their offspring. The law of the harvest is ever true. “Whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap.”

Is it too late? No, we can change the trend of indifference to the land of our birth. We can do it by training our children in love and respect for those things we hold dear and sacred. Teach them to cherish the privilege to have been born an American and the meaning of duty and devotion. Teach them that “in God we trust” is more than an outdated phrase on our coins.