Patriotism to your country is something that comes from your

The warrior and truth-teller Jesse Ventura once spoke words that pierce the heart with their simplicity: “Patriotism to your country is something that comes from your heart. It should be taught to you by your parents.” These words remind us that patriotism is not meant to be an empty slogan shouted in the streets, nor a blind allegiance demanded by rulers. True patriotism is born in the quiet of the home, nurtured by the voices of parents, and rooted in the heart, where it grows into a love that is both tender and fierce.

For Ventura, a soldier and a leader, patriotism was not about flags waving in the wind alone, but about the values instilled in the child at the family table. It is in the stories told by fathers and mothers, the lessons whispered at night, the sacrifices made for survival, that a person learns what it means to belong to a land and to its people. Schools may teach history, governments may inspire loyalty, but only the family can plant in the heart that deep-rooted sense of gratitude and devotion. When patriotism is taught by parents, it is not a command—it is a gift of memory, tradition, and love.

History gives us shining examples of this truth. Consider the story of George Washington’s mother, Mary Ball Washington, who, widowed and alone, raised the boy who would become the first president of the United States. It was she who taught him discipline, reverence for faith, and the importance of honor. Though Washington grew to lead armies and shape a nation, he always carried within him the values his mother instilled. His patriotism was not a garment put on in war—it was the natural fruit of a mother’s teaching, of a family’s steadfast guidance.

So too, across many cultures, it is in the household that the seeds of loyalty are sown. The Jewish family lighting candles in exile, the Japanese family teaching respect for ancestors, the African family recounting tales of tribal courage—all these pass down a love that outlasts kingdoms and governments. Patriotism of the heart is never enforced by decree; it is breathed into children by those who love them, until it becomes a flame that burns for life.

Ventura’s words also warn us of the dangers of counterfeit patriotism. When love of country is demanded by force, or manipulated for political gain, it becomes hollow, even dangerous. But when it springs from the heart, when it is taught by parents who pass down both pride and humility, it cannot be corrupted. Such patriotism is resilient; it does not vanish when governments fail, nor does it crumble when times grow dark. It is loyalty to people, to soil, to heritage—an inheritance of the soul.

The lesson for us, then, is clear: raise the young with stories of honor, sacrifice, and gratitude. Teach them not only the victories of their nation, but also its trials, its struggles, its failures. Let them see both light and shadow, so that their love is not blind but wise. Show them that patriotism is not arrogance, but responsibility—responsibility to protect, to serve, and to better the land they call home. In this way, the heart will learn what no law can command.

Practically, let every parent and elder take this as their charge: speak often of the past, honor the traditions of your people, and show by your actions what it means to be loyal. Serve your community with kindness, teach the young to respect both freedom and duty, and remind them that love of country is lived, not merely proclaimed. In this way, patriotism will not be a shallow word, but a living inheritance carried by each new generation.

Thus Ventura’s wisdom endures: true patriotism is a flame lit in the heart, kindled at home, and passed from parent to child. It is not forced by rulers nor bound by borders—it is born of love, nurtured by family, and proven in the way we live. Guard this flame well, and it will light the path of your people for centuries to come.