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Many talk about identity politics and nationalism. And some consider nationalism to be a serious problem. But what is nationalism, how would you define it? Is nationalism equal with patriotism? And is nationalism, objectively see, negative?
In my opinion a patriot isn’t necessarily a nationalist. I would define a nationalist as someone:
Who thinks that his own nation/culture is superior to others without objective evidence.
Important is the last part of the sentence (“without objective evidence”).
Example 1: One can actually say something like: “America is better than North Korea”, or “Americans are better then Iraqis” without being a nationalist. It is just necessary to reason the claim. One could say for example: “The USA is better than North Korea because America’s economic and cultural system allows a higher range of occupational opportunities, more individualistic self-actualization and a higher level of quality of life for its citizens.” This statement wouldn’t be nationalistic because it’s just a declaration of the facts.
Example 2: One also could say: “Americans are higher developed then the people of certain Arabian countries, because in certain Arabian countries possessing a bible or being homosexual can be punished with death and a high percentage of the population supports such laws, while most American citizens would reject them”. This statement wouldn’t be nationalistic too, because it’s true. And speaking out the truth can't be immoral.
A real nationalist, by contrast, would say something like: “Americans are better then other nationalities just because they are Americans”. This statement is nationalism because it doesn’t rely on objectively observable facts like the statements above. Being a nationalist is thinking the own nation is better than other nations without conclusive reasoning. This is what the Nazis did: “Germans are better then Non-Germans just because they are Germans”.
Some would interpose that even the fist two examples were nationalistic and morally wrong, because we should never belittle others and always be politically correct, friendly and smile. But I would say: I believe in freedom of speech. And if it is true that a nation punishes infringements like possessing a bible or being homosexual with death – and its citizen approve such laws – it spoils nothing to say that the American society has reached a higher developmental stage than that nation. Because speaking out the truth can't be wrong – even if the truth inconvenient for some.
In my opinion a patriot isn’t necessarily a nationalist. I would define a nationalist as someone:
Who thinks that his own nation/culture is superior to others without objective evidence.
Important is the last part of the sentence (“without objective evidence”).
Example 1: One can actually say something like: “America is better than North Korea”, or “Americans are better then Iraqis” without being a nationalist. It is just necessary to reason the claim. One could say for example: “The USA is better than North Korea because America’s economic and cultural system allows a higher range of occupational opportunities, more individualistic self-actualization and a higher level of quality of life for its citizens.” This statement wouldn’t be nationalistic because it’s just a declaration of the facts.
Example 2: One also could say: “Americans are higher developed then the people of certain Arabian countries, because in certain Arabian countries possessing a bible or being homosexual can be punished with death and a high percentage of the population supports such laws, while most American citizens would reject them”. This statement wouldn’t be nationalistic too, because it’s true. And speaking out the truth can't be immoral.
A real nationalist, by contrast, would say something like: “Americans are better then other nationalities just because they are Americans”. This statement is nationalism because it doesn’t rely on objectively observable facts like the statements above. Being a nationalist is thinking the own nation is better than other nations without conclusive reasoning. This is what the Nazis did: “Germans are better then Non-Germans just because they are Germans”.
Some would interpose that even the fist two examples were nationalistic and morally wrong, because we should never belittle others and always be politically correct, friendly and smile. But I would say: I believe in freedom of speech. And if it is true that a nation punishes infringements like possessing a bible or being homosexual with death – and its citizen approve such laws – it spoils nothing to say that the American society has reached a higher developmental stage than that nation. Because speaking out the truth can't be wrong – even if the truth inconvenient for some.
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