America, said to be the land of the free, and the home of the brave. A land where we claim to be the beacon of liberty, yet corporations constantly impede the small business at every turn. We claim to be the land of the free, yet gay people have their freedoms trampled at every opportunity.
No doubt America is not perfect, and it falls far short of the ideals it so loudly proclaims. Yet I did not write this to talk about that. There is a trend developing in this nation, and quite a disturbing one at that. Nationalism, the downfall of nations, is promoted and pushed under the label of being a "Patriot". I call Nationalism the downfall of nations, for that is exactly what it is, if one looks back into the history books.
Fascist Italy, Nazi Germany, Imperial Rome, all of them with one thing in common- Nationalism.
Now America has it's own brand of this dangerous political dogma. To be a Patriot, they say, one must be a Republican. To be a Patriot one must pledge loyalty to the flag, to the government, to the President, to the Congress men and women, to all it seems except those an American should pledge loyalty to- the American people.
You see, that is what Nationalism is truly about, control of the people. You pledge allegiance to the government, because that is what Nationalism is designed for, to make the people into obedient followers. That is what it has always been for.
Italian Dictator Benito Mussolini preached a form of Nationalism that became a political doctrine we today know as Fascism. Oh yes, Mussolini was popular with the people, funding an entire campaign of terror on the money of his loyal nationalists, for you see, the people were willing to give him anything, so long as he preached a message of Italian Nationalism.
He started a program in which any Italian willing to donate a large amount of gold watches, jewelry, etc. to the government received a bracelet to show they were "good Patriots". The people jumped at the chance to feel this special feeling of being a good Patriot, loyal to country and government, not realizing what their leader was using the funds for. Mussolini used the money he got from this loyalty campaign to build concentration camps in North Africa.
His people did virtually nothing to oppose him. Why? Because they were indoctrinated with his Nationalism. The Italians stood by and watched while Mussolini sided with one of the greatest madmen in history, Adolf Hitler, and this because he kept them loyal with the feel good message of "Patriotism".
In Germany Hitler's rise to power was much the same. He preached a message of German Nationalism and greatness. He envisioned a world in which Germany took it's rightful place as ruler of Europe. How wonderful is the message of Nationalism to the ears that it causes the people to stand by whilst their government commits any atrocity!
We have a horrible example of Nationalism in our own history as Kemetics, and it is a history many are familiar with. Octavian, who later became known as Caesar Augustus, preached a message of Nationalism to unite the Romans in taking down Egypt. The horrid Octavian then captured his own brother Caesarion, rightful heir of Julius Caesar, and murdered him in cold blood. All this enabled by the people who believed his doctrine of Nationalism.
Today in America the effects of Nationalism are no different. Our government preaches us a message of Patriotism, of how great America is, of how America's way is the best way, of how they wish to protect our greatness, while they use our military to play the very kind of dictators our country's founders fought against. They preach us a feel good message of Patriotism and we believe them, all the while they glory in war and destruction and take our country down the path of ruin.
That is what history bears out the horrid doctrine of Nationalism is, the path of ruin, the downfall of nations. Americans it is time we wake up from the notions our government brainwashes us with, that we're somehow better then our fellow human beings, and that anything our government does under the banner of defending us is fine and dandy. This is not acceptable. This kind of thinking can justify any evil, as it always has.
History teaches us to be wary of any political entity preaching Nationalism and love of country as it's party line. You don't have to take my word for it. Just look back at the history of nations like Germany, Rome, Japan and others and tell me, is it worth it? Is Nationalism worth the price we have to pay? Not only is it destructive to our nation's future, but to our freedoms and liberties.
Benjamin Franklin one of our founders has said that the man who trades his liberty for security deserves neither and will lose both. Is this not what is happening now? Have the majority of Americans not bought into the destructive doctrine of Nationalism? Has our government not given us promises of a safer America at the cost of many of our most dear freedoms? America, it is time to wake up!
No doubt America is not perfect, and it falls far short of the ideals it so loudly proclaims. Yet I did not write this to talk about that. There is a trend developing in this nation, and quite a disturbing one at that. Nationalism, the downfall of nations, is promoted and pushed under the label of being a "Patriot". I call Nationalism the downfall of nations, for that is exactly what it is, if one looks back into the history books.
Fascist Italy, Nazi Germany, Imperial Rome, all of them with one thing in common- Nationalism.
Now America has it's own brand of this dangerous political dogma. To be a Patriot, they say, one must be a Republican. To be a Patriot one must pledge loyalty to the flag, to the government, to the President, to the Congress men and women, to all it seems except those an American should pledge loyalty to- the American people.
You see, that is what Nationalism is truly about, control of the people. You pledge allegiance to the government, because that is what Nationalism is designed for, to make the people into obedient followers. That is what it has always been for.
Italian Dictator Benito Mussolini preached a form of Nationalism that became a political doctrine we today know as Fascism. Oh yes, Mussolini was popular with the people, funding an entire campaign of terror on the money of his loyal nationalists, for you see, the people were willing to give him anything, so long as he preached a message of Italian Nationalism.
He started a program in which any Italian willing to donate a large amount of gold watches, jewelry, etc. to the government received a bracelet to show they were "good Patriots". The people jumped at the chance to feel this special feeling of being a good Patriot, loyal to country and government, not realizing what their leader was using the funds for. Mussolini used the money he got from this loyalty campaign to build concentration camps in North Africa.
His people did virtually nothing to oppose him. Why? Because they were indoctrinated with his Nationalism. The Italians stood by and watched while Mussolini sided with one of the greatest madmen in history, Adolf Hitler, and this because he kept them loyal with the feel good message of "Patriotism".
In Germany Hitler's rise to power was much the same. He preached a message of German Nationalism and greatness. He envisioned a world in which Germany took it's rightful place as ruler of Europe. How wonderful is the message of Nationalism to the ears that it causes the people to stand by whilst their government commits any atrocity!
We have a horrible example of Nationalism in our own history as Kemetics, and it is a history many are familiar with. Octavian, who later became known as Caesar Augustus, preached a message of Nationalism to unite the Romans in taking down Egypt. The horrid Octavian then captured his own brother Caesarion, rightful heir of Julius Caesar, and murdered him in cold blood. All this enabled by the people who believed his doctrine of Nationalism.
Today in America the effects of Nationalism are no different. Our government preaches us a message of Patriotism, of how great America is, of how America's way is the best way, of how they wish to protect our greatness, while they use our military to play the very kind of dictators our country's founders fought against. They preach us a feel good message of Patriotism and we believe them, all the while they glory in war and destruction and take our country down the path of ruin.
That is what history bears out the horrid doctrine of Nationalism is, the path of ruin, the downfall of nations. Americans it is time we wake up from the notions our government brainwashes us with, that we're somehow better then our fellow human beings, and that anything our government does under the banner of defending us is fine and dandy. This is not acceptable. This kind of thinking can justify any evil, as it always has.
History teaches us to be wary of any political entity preaching Nationalism and love of country as it's party line. You don't have to take my word for it. Just look back at the history of nations like Germany, Rome, Japan and others and tell me, is it worth it? Is Nationalism worth the price we have to pay? Not only is it destructive to our nation's future, but to our freedoms and liberties.
Benjamin Franklin one of our founders has said that the man who trades his liberty for security deserves neither and will lose both. Is this not what is happening now? Have the majority of Americans not bought into the destructive doctrine of Nationalism? Has our government not given us promises of a safer America at the cost of many of our most dear freedoms? America, it is time to wake up!
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