Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

To: Young Werther
Is the term nationalism, like fascism, so widely used and misused that it doesn't mean anything in the vernacular?

"My country right or wrong" strikes me as nationalism and is a mantra of the right.
13 posted on 12/03/2003 8:24:47 AM PST by gcruse (http://gcruse.typepad.com/)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies ]


To: gcruse
It's more of an aesthetics' issue.

Patriotism, love of the land of our fathers, has always been considered a positive trait in Western culture.

Nationalism, a rather arbitrary love of political borders, has always been considered lower and often leads to dangerous outcomes.

For example, the nationalist believes his country is always right, where as a patriot tends to believe in his country, right or wrong, which suggests that his country is capable of being wrong.

As an aside, nice catch with the comment on Utopia's but take it a step further. The War on Drugs, the War on Poverty, the War on Terrorism are all utopian ends that can never actually end.
15 posted on 12/03/2003 8:27:46 AM PST by JohnGalt (How few were left who had seen the Republic!---Tacitus)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies ]

To: gcruse
In a word, "No!"

Of course, that's my opinion.

65 posted on 12/03/2003 11:41:19 AM PST by Young Werther
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson