Patriots have a deep love for and loyalty to serve our country. These characteristics are often associated with the US Patriots:
Who are the real patriots? This is where things get interesting and contested. Different people emphasize different aspects:
Some see patriots primarily as those who serve in the military or government. Others view patriots as activists working to improve their country, even through criticism and protest. Still others might point to teachers, healthcare workers, or anyone contributing to their community's welfare.
The tension often arises because patriotism can be expressed through support for existing institutions or through challenging them to live up to stated ideals. Someone protesting injustice might see themselves as a patriot fighting for their country's founding principles, while others might view uncritical support as the truer form of patriotism.
Historically, the label has been claimed by revolutionaries and loyalists alike, by reformers and conservatives, by those who stayed and those who dissented.
What makes someone a patriot often depends less on any objective criteria and more on whether their form of national devotion aligns with the observer's own values about what the country should be. This is why the term is so frequently contested in political debates.