iNationalism

I fear to tread on nationalism. I’ve previously stated that we have been victims to national historical lessons which are predicated on religious ideologies, cultural claims and any kind of ‘value’ that we claim to hold as unifed communities. I hate ‘value’ as a term, but I have to use it to make a point since its ambiguity is inexplicably polarizing to a concept. In any case, nationalism. I started a year ago with this as a reasoning to drive the strength of communities to develop, create and thrive. I cast it aside quickly as I realized the dangers of, again, historical doctrines as well as anti-aliasing between cultures. I’m not back-tracking to say “lets start here now”. I’ve still moved beyond this, but I think there is a potential here. Pride is tricky, but no less than Hope in that when it falls, it falls hard into Despair. But restart that Pride and people have drive. We may all need a new pride currently, as the United States continues to flucuate from its dominance. But I tread lightly on saying that We the People need to restart American Pride to make the United States great again. Instead, I the Person should focus on that strength that develops, creates and thrives. When I have created, and someone else has created, the United we are stronger. If I ask others to make me better, I make them weaker because I have not created. iNationalism. First, foremost and under my determination. What should I do then to make myself better? How can I if Nationalism deters the evolution of iNationalism? (refer to History post)

How awful is our day-in-age that I need to write this as iNationalism in order to relate to the modern man? Maybe I start there.

HV

History

I've had a love-hate relationship with the concept of history and those that exploit it's references. While its lessons are invaluable, its underlining message is a manner of indoctrinating those that it teaches. Take a student from Anywhere: he grows up learning his national history, its 'values' and its position in the world. Then take a student from anywhere else in the world and do the same thing. History has now formed two individuals based on their birth location and pits them against each other with 'cultural pride'. Then, in juxtaposition for each individual, we offer opportunity by stating "free will". With such refinement against obvious contradiction, the free will then becomes open to suggestion. "If I am free, then I have a right to decide what I believe in." But did you ever? Your "free will" is programmed now. What is your freedom from? Oppression from governments? That's physical. The damage is routed in your education - what you know, what you perceive and what you hope to accomplish. The juxtaposition of freedom and history is to establish you as a national. I grew up with you, you grew up with us, we grew up together - let's preserve that. But what is it you defend? Your land, your ideas, your customs? They aren't yours. They belong to history.

HV