Patriotism is an extremely long standing tradition in the United States of America.   Patriotism is the symbol of the United States of America and is rooted in the history of the founding of this great nation. This is what separates the United States of America with other strong nations. Patriotism is a strong quality in which drives the many forces behind the United States of America. Forces such as our military, our economy, our political ideas, and many others. The patriotism in the United States of America is the idea that we as citizens always strive to make the place we leave greater and the best it can be, so that the United States of America can be the best there is. Patriotism can be conveyed and illustrated through many different forms entertainment, art, personal actions, and all other forms of expression. Many Americans are extremely proud to be a part of the United States of America and choose to demonstrate it in their preferred form of expression. Examples of this are wide spread throughout pop culture and has been for centuries. Being in this country during the Fourth of July would illustrate to just about anybody the patriotism in this country and how it is conveyed through popular forms of entertainment. Great examples of this are existent in the contemporary music industry. Popular artists in the past decade such as Lil Wayne, Miley Cyrus, Jay-Z, Brad Paisley, Eminem, Toby Keith, and many others have all released records expressing their pride in the United States of America. One of the most notable contemporary songs that express patriotism is Bruce Springsteen's Born in The U.S.A... Bruce Springsteen is widely known for being a patriotic artist and his song Born in The U.S.A. is one of the most recognizable patriotic songs of our time. However, many patriotic songs in history provide expression of patriotism as well. Songs like The Star Spangled Banner, Your Grand Old Flag, and many others express patriotism quite well. One of the most played patriotic song is Battle Hymn of the Republic by Julia Ward Howe. These two songs, Battle Hymn of the Republic and Born in The U.S.A, are both fantastic songs to analyze and compare to learn more about patriotism. The imagery used in these songs demonstrate the level of pride and patriotism the people of the United States of America have in their country.

To begin, patriotism is clearly conveyed through both songs, Battle Hymn of the Republic and Born in The U.S.A. However, they do demonstrate it in extremely different ways. Born in The U.S.A. conveys Bruce Springsteen's patriotism through using ridicule and criticism towards our countries reception and treatment of Vietnam veterans. Knowing this and reading the lyrics to Born in The U.S.A. may make it seem like Bruce Springsteen is actually being anti-patriotic and expressing hate towards the United States of America, which is wrong. He is providing criticism towards our reception of Vietnam veterans after the Vietnam war, but he is also expressing his patriotism through practicing the first amendment granting him the freedom of speech. In many countries around the world speaking out against the country as a whole like Bruce Springsteen did in Born in The U.S.A. would be punished by imprisonment or even death. What is more patriotic then utilizing the rights granted by our founding fathers and fought for and protected by our soldiers? Battle Hymn of the Republic by Julia Ward Howe approaches her expression of patriotism in a very different way. Julia Ward Howe wrote this song to motivate the Union's soldiers during the Civil War. Battle Hymn of the Republic influenced many soldiers of the Union to fight harder for victory as the lyrics said that they were fighting for God's will. "Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord he is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored  his truth is marching on" (Julia Ward Howe). Julia Ward Howe believed that the Union soldiers were marching for God's will and truth. Another example of Julia Ward Howe's patriotism is shown through her words as she wrote "As he died to make men holy let us live to make men free" (Julia Ward Howe). Julia Ward Howe believes that the Union soldiers are marching to free the enslaved African Americans of the south, which is noble and honorable. Both of these songs are patriotic and both of these songs take two very different approaches to conveying their patriotism.

Moreover, Battle Hymn of the Republic and Born in The U.S.A. both have great amounts of imagery infused within the lyrics and beat of the song. The imagery creates an addition to the patriotic aspect of the songs. In the Battle Hymn of the Republic the imagery creates a vivid image of Union soldiers marching towards the Confederates with the band playing the Battle Hymn of the Republic. For example, "He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat. He is sifting out the hearts of men. Before His judgment-seat Oh, be swift, my soul to answer him be jubilant, my feet our God is marching on" (Julia Ward Howe). This lyric creates the image of a young soldier standing in the neat formation of Union soldiers playing this song as they march. This specific lyric provides a perfect example of a patriotic lyric in Battle Hymn of the Republic because it illustrates that the United States of America will fight for the freedom we have and the freedoms that are being denied to citizens of our country. The lyric shows the patriotism and gratefulness that is represented by the freedoms and rights we have and others are not as fortunate do not have in their own land. In Bruce Springsteen's Born in The U.S.A. has patriotic imagery as well. Born in The U.S.A. illustrates for the listener what men who come back from fighting our wars go through and their sacrifice for the United States of America. "Had a brother at Khe Sahn fighting of the Viet Cong. They're still there he's all gone. He had a woman he loved in Saigon. I got a picture of him in her arms now." (Bruce Springsteen). This shows the patriotism and thanks Bruce Springsteen has for soldiers who made the greatest sacrifice for the United States of America. Bruce Springsteen wrote the lyric to illustrate how families lose fathers, mothers, daughters, sons, spouses, and other loved ones to war because it shows the patriotism of this country. The imagery and lyricism in these two songs, Battle Hymn of the Republic and Born in The U.S.A, are great examples of the patriotism in the United States of America in popular culture and more specifically the music industry. 

Furthermore, when comparing Battle Hymn of the Republic and Born in The U.S.A you notice they use two different kinds of patriotism. Julia Ward Howe uses motivational and positive patriotism. The song Battle Hymn of the Republic invokes motivation and pride for their country because it paints the United States of America in a good light. It makes our country seem like it is at the top and there is no where like it. Julia Ward Howe's lyrics give to imagery that the United States of America fights for everyone's freedoms and rights. Conversely, Bruce Springsteen's Born in The U.S.A uses ridicule and negative aspects of this country to try and point out its flaws. It is still patriotism because while it is acknowledging the fact that there is a problem with the reception of our courageous troops when they returned from the Vietnam war Bruce Springsteen wants to invoke change among the people of this nation, and without having pride in this nation he would not want to change it. He would not want to change something that he does not care about. You can not have shame without having pride in something to begin with. These two songs, Battle Hymn of the Republic and Born in The U.S.A, are both patriotic songs even if they use two extremely different ways of showing their pride in their country.

In conclusion, the imagery and lyricism provides a great understanding for the pride the artists, Bruce Springsteen and Julia Ward Howe, has for the United States of America. While Bruce Springsteen conveys his patriotism towards this country through using the freedoms fought for and protected by the United States military to try to invoke change that would better this country. Julia Ward Howe conveys her patriotism through invoking motivation and pride in the listeners of her song. When listening to the song the lyrics and imagery create a sense of pride because the listener knows it motivated soldiers during the Civil War to march and fight to spread the freedoms this country offers. Both songs also provide great imagery. Julia Ward Howe uses imagery in her songs to raise patriotism out of the listener by creating a vivid picture of the song being played as the Union's soldiers march to battle. Bruce Springsteen uses imagery in his song by painting a picture of exactly what soldiers sacrifice when they go off to fight for the United States of America. Julia Ward Howe writes about a different kind of patriotism then Bruce Springsteen does. She sees the country in a perfect light and that the country fights for freedoms and rights guaranteed by our ancestors. Bruce Springsteen sees the country with its flaws. He sees it as we sent young men off to war to fight for something not everyone was behind and when they returned they did not receive the welcome they deserved. Overall, both musical pieces are very patriotic songs and compare and contrast very well with each other to show there are different ways to express patriotism and pride.

