A Word On Patriotism

A word about Patriotism....if anything animates CAHS work it is Patrick Henry's notion of patriotism. Patriotism is more about love of country than love of government. As exemplified by Henry, patriotism is also loving the principles upon which the country was founded. To Henry, he was profoundly devoted to English laws and its evolving liberties, rights, and privileges. Since Magna Carta such laws and tradition yielded to him and his fellow citizens the fruits of liberty. However, King George and Parliament (together with his British troops and hired Hessian bayonets) sought to take those liberties and rights from him. While love of country (England) was in his heart, it was not the love of mere land that set him against King and Country, but his love of liberty (as begun with Magna Carta). When the King threatened his liberty, he appealed as did most Americans to his King to redress such grievances. But, the King would not listen. Ultimately, war broke out at Lexington on April 19, 1775. There was no greater subject of the King in America than Henry, but with this last straw of commitment, Henry proved to America that there was no greater Patriot than Henry. His love of liberty would have to be transferred to a new country as the land of his birth was British America. Patrick Henry's new country was to be the United States of America with its sacred principles of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

It is not a blind patriotism that CAHS supports and models, but an informed patriotism centered on the founding, founders, founding documents, and founding principles that we pursue as our happiness.