爱国情怀

　　爱国情怀是指对祖国的深厚感情和信念，是中华民族评价一个人的行为和道德水准的重要尺度。

　　中国人的爱国情怀虽然在不同的历史时期有着不同的具体内容和特点，但也具有共同的内容。它包括：热爱国土和家乡；热爱祖国的人民；尊重民族的传统习惯和共同语言；珍视祖国的光荣历史；具有民族自尊心和自豪感；自觉维护民族团结和国家统一；保卫祖国，维护祖国尊严，敢于同一切外来敌人作斗争；关心祖国的前途和命运，并为祖国的繁荣富强而努力奋斗。“天下兴亡，匹夫有责”是千百年来中国人共同的信念。

　　中华民族的爱国精神代代相传。宋代抗金英雄岳飞，一生精忠报国；明代爱国志士郑成功亲率战舰，一举收复了被荷兰殖民者侵占了38年的台湾；清代的政治家林则徐，为维护国家和民族的尊严，下令收缴英、美商人输入中国的鸦片，并当众销毁；日本帝国主义侵占中国后，全中国人民奋起抗战，终于取得了抗日战争的全面胜利；许多著名的科学家如钱学森、李四光等，在祖国需要的时候，放弃国外种种优厚待遇，毅然回国效力；侨居海外的广大华侨，为祖国的发展强大贡献力量，表现了一片赤诚的爱国、爱乡之情……

　　爱国精神是一种伟大的凝聚力和向心力。当出现民族纷争和国家分裂的局面时，人们总能在爱国精神影响下，从国家和民族大义出发，维护团结和统一；在遭受外敌入侵的危难时刻，各族人民总能在爱国大旗的感召下，团结对外，奋起反抗，保卫国家的独立和尊严；在发展经济建设的年代里，海内外的炎黄子孙总能在爱国热情的激励下，为中华的腾飞群策群力，共同奋斗……

　　爱国情怀也是催人奋进的强大精神力量，它把个人和祖国的命运紧紧地联系在一起，鼓舞着人们为祖国和人民建功立业。

　　Patriotic Sentiments

　　Patriotic sentiments, referring to the profound feelings for and belief in the motherland, are an important criterion for the Chinese nation to evaluate a person's conduct and moral level.

　　Although Chinese people's patriotic sentiments have different contents and features in different historical periods, they have always included a love for the homeland and hometown, love for the people, respect for the traditional customs and common languages of ethnic groups, cherishing China's glorious history, national self-esteem and pride, safeguarding national unity and unification, defending the motherland and national dignity and fighting against all external enemies, caring for the future and fate of the motherland, and working hard for the prosperity and strength of the country. "Everyone being responsible for the fate of his country" has been a common belief for thousands of years.

　　The patriotic spirit of the Chinese nation has been passed on from generation to generation. Yue Fei of the Song Dynasty served his motherland with selfless loyalty all through his life. Zheng Chenggong, a patriotic person of resolve in the Ming Dynasty, led warships to recover Taiwan at the first attempt after it had been occupied by Dutch colonists for 38 years. Lin Zexu, a statesman of the Qing Dynasty, in order to defend national dignity, gave orders to confiscate and burn the opium imported into China by English and American businessmen. After Japanese imperialists invaded China, the Chinese people rose up against them and ultimately obtained victory in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. Many famous scholars, such as Qian Xuesen and Li Siguang, gave up an easy life in foreign countries to return home to resolutely serve China when the motherland needed them. Many overseas Chinese contribute their efforts for the development and strength of the motherland, showing their sincere love for their homeland and hometown.

　　Patriotic spirit is a strong cohesive force. When the country has disputes between ethnic groups or is split, people can always defend national unity and unification from the overall interests of the state and the righteous cause of the Chinese nation under the influence of a patriotic spirit. At a dangerous and adverse moment of external threat, all ethnic groups, under the flag of patriotism, can always rise up in unity to resist the aggressor and safeguard the independence and dignity of the country. In time of economic development, all Chinese at home and abroad can always make joint efforts for the take-off of the Chinese nation under the inspiration of patriotic enthusiasm....

　　Patriotic sentiments, also a strong spiritual power to impel the advancement of individuals, links closely the fate of individual with that of the country and inspires people to render meritorious service and carve out a distinguished career for the people and the country.