Quote by Theodore Roosevelt
Every man has a right to one country. He has a right to love and serve that country and to feel that it is absolutely his country and that he has in it every right possessed by anyone else. It is our duty to require the man of German blood who is an American citizen to give up all allegiance to Germany wholeheartedly and without on his part any mental reservation whatever. If he does this it becomes no less our duty to give him the full rights of an American, including our loyal respect and friendship without on our part any mental reservation whatever. The duties are reciprocal, and from the standpoint of American patriotism one is as important as the other.
Summary
This quote highlights the importance of national identity and loyalty. It asserts that individuals have the right to claim one country as their own, and to love and serve it. To fully embrace their chosen country, individuals must give up any allegiance to their country of origin without reservation. From a patriotic standpoint, if an individual does this, it is the duty of the new country to grant them all the rights and respect of a true citizen, without any hesitation. The quote reminds us that these duties, both from the individual and the nation, are reciprocal and equally important for fostering a sense of patriotic belonging.
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