Posted by
Tim Blessing on Sunday, June 22, 2008 8:29:01 PM
NATIONALISM.
What is Nationalism?
That's when the voters fire Jimmy Carter and put in Ronald Reagan in the White House.
It could be patriotism.
It could be a force for war.
Nationalism is about being proud of what your nation stand's for.
It is a necessary component of politics if you want to get elected and reelected.
Does that mean the French are anti-American?
I'd say no. They are trying to pursue their own nationalism like we are everyday in the international arena.
Nationalism provides strength for a leader to pursue his country's national interest with the backing of his public.
Nationalism get's in the way when it become's a narrow ideological approach like Don Rumsfeld and George W. Bush practice it.
In essence, nationalism is more than patriotism, somewhere around national philosophy, and less than a ideology.