07.04.07
Patriotism – Making a difference!
Patriotism denotes positive and supportive attitudes to a ‘fatherland’
(Latin patria < Greek patris, ??????), by individuals and groups. [Wikipedia]
You may ask what Patriotism on the 4th of July has to do with Kentucky and the World Equestrian Games. The answer is nothing and everything. Wikipedia’s definition is the grand way in which most people think of patriotism but the truth is that patriotism starts in our own local communities and grows from there. So what we celebrate today has to do with the Patriotism of individuals like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and the likes that led to the birth of this Nation. The Patriotism we all should practice every other day of the year has to do with how we feel a part of this Nation and how we take care of our it.
The daily Patriotism I am talking about I am going to define this way; a positive and supportive attitudes to one’s community and one’s community starts with the family and friends and grows outward. The key to that statement is positive and supportive attitudes because no matter what, everyday we get up and our attitudes impact the people around us for better or worse. I am not saying that you have to be happy and strive to make some big positive impact everyday just be aware that what you do does make an impact.
One way that I do recommend to make a positive impact is through volunteering for something you care about. That could be through any number of organizations or as simple as helping a neighbor in need on a regular and ongoing basis. I am the first one that will say that it takes a commitment to volunteer with all that we have going on in our busy lives. However, I am also going ask that for those of you able to make such a commitment, not to my organization first but to the Kentucky Horse Park and I am going to ask that by my actions not simply my words. I have already put in a call to the Horse Park to ask about volunteering and I am going to go out there in the next week for an interview to see what and if I can help out there and I will report back with the details.
In this way I hope to be able to make a direct impact in helping the Kentucky Horse Park and another way of helping the success of the World Equestrian Games which I believe will can positively effect all of Kentucky with the help of the citizens of Kentucky.
One final note, we are also always looking for new members to help us get the word out about the Games and to help people find ways to benefit from the Games in all parts of Kentucky. So please sign up and we will keep you in the loop on whats going on and how you can make a difference.
Thank you and Happy 4th of July.
Thomas Demond
Founder
KentuckyWorldEquestrianGames.ORG
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