The Irish experience shows that nationalism is not the problem Trump and Brexit Britain's issues stem from feelings off those "others"... the immigrants.
The word “nationalist” is getting a hard time recently, with the term white nationalist offending most Americans who see it as a codeword for racial bigotry.
But nationalism is not the problem. It is the abuse of nationalism that creates evil.
Nationhood is the framework for everyone's existence -- you are born a national of some country no matter who you are.
Nationalism is the assertion of that fact. It is in our DNA to be Irish and proud of it.
Read more: “No chance” of US-UK trade deal if Good Friday Agreement is jeopardized, says Pelosi
In Ireland, the term is usually used in the context of Northern Ireland. A nationalist is a person who believes in a united Ireland without resorting to violence. That pretty much includes everyone in Ireland bar the unionists, since the IRA called a ceasefire.
Nationalism isn't the problem!
So modern progressive nationalism is not the problem.
What people are offended about really is an abuse of nationalism such as what President Trump and the English are perpetrating.
Both are insisting that their definition is the only one that counts. Trump's nationalism is white guys and women full stop; everyone else has a provisional American status in his books.
That's why he attacks a second-generation Hispanic judge and accused him of Mexican bias. That’s why he accused Barack Obama of being born in Kenya.
That’s why he attacks the visa lottery, which brings legal immigrants to America. That's why he is now insisting on preconditions for green card holders, clearly aimed at Hispanic immigrants.
Read more: Cillian Murphy says Ireland cannot be held "ransom" over Brexit
Trump has swallowed the policy of no replacement of white guys. Jean Renaud Gabriel Camus is a French writer and white nationalist conspiracy theorist.
He is known for the theory of the Great Replacement, a conspiracy theory that claims a global elite led by Jews is colluding against the European white populations to replace them with non-European peoples.
Remember the Charlottesville chant, “Jews will not replace us.” Trump and his Darth Vadar aide Stephen Miller, himself Jewish, might as well have been chanting along.
Group's marching through Charlotteville chanting "Jews will not replace us".
Brexit is about English nationalism, not in a benign way but as a demand that everyone follows them even though Scotland and Northern Ireland voted to stay in the EU.
Instead of understanding that dilemma and sitting down with leaders from the two countries, the English baldly stated “our way or the highway.”
That immediately caused a strong reaction. The majority of Scots, for instance, have had enough of English nationalism.
In a poll, 52 percent of the Scots last week said they wanted independence once Brexit is done, the highest number ever.
Brexit Britain's Boris Johnson: it's "our way".
Nationalists in Northern Ireland, meanwhile, voted to reject Brexit as did many moderate unionists.
The scenario of a united Ireland in Europe is starting to look a lot more attractive. Even some unionists are asking why they need this autocratic BS from England.
The truth is the Eton and Oxford elite that British Prime Minister Boris Johnson represents doesn’t care a fig for the sentiments of any voters but their own.
Likewise with Trump, who only wishes to be president for half the country as he proved in El Paso and Dayton, with his harsh attacks on local pols at a time of deep mourning.
The sad part is that both with the English and Trump is no intention of negotiation or compromise.
So we sail on with the bullies in charge, heading for a mighty shipwreck in both cases. As Donald Trump might say “sad.”
Read more: Trump beats Biden when it comes to mangling his words
Comments