On Nationalism

What is it about nationalism and its associated ism patriotism?

I really dont have a problem with being a nationalist or a patriot.  They are good expressions of identity, of belonging, in a world of multiple identities.

But when taken to extremes, I find them very objectionable.

The extreme is when my country takes precedence without critical consideration.

The case in point is the extreme nationalism of the israeli state.  Under the guise of fighting for its survival within the arab world, the israeli state is suppressing freedom of expression  Those who would be peaceful Israelis, against the abhorrent assaults on the palestinian people of Gaza, are being stripped of their rights to free expression.

This of course is not unusual.  When a nation goes to war, its populace are encouraged to support the aggression.  It helps enormously in the propaganda war to have the masses behind you.  Britain did it in WWII along others with its "loose lips sink ships" campaign, and the US did it very successfully with the disinformation about "weapons of mass destruction" in the Iraq excursion under the Bush regimes.

But is it necessary?  I was always taught that the means justifies the end, not the end justifies the means. There are those that think that aggression, such as quite possibly about to be unleashed in the Ukraine by Russia, unleashed in Iraq by IS against the Yazidis, as well as recently by the Israelis in Gaza, justify the goal of survival in a hostile world.  However, those that live by the sword die by the sword, is an axiom that suggests that survival does not follow.  It is so much better to be Ghandian, or Mandelan, or in the real tradition of Christianity, to turn the other cheek, to respond with kindness not aggression.

My preference as an ethos is in the masthead of the Globe and Mail: The subject who is truly loyal to the chief magistrate will neither propose nor condone arbitrary measures.  Thus we should encourage discussion at all levels of public discourse, we should have a continuing public discourse whether we are at peace or at war, in Israel no less than in Ukraine.

One of the things we have managed to do in our relatively peaceful societies -- though the US has been at war almost continuously since the end of WWII, is channel our aggression through team sports.  It is very satisfying to "beat the crap" out of the other guys.  We do it vicariously through support of our favorite teams.  In team sports, the other guys survive to play another day.  In war they do not.  It is so much more civilized for the victor to allow the vanquished an equal role in the future.