America was built upon the ideology of nationalism. This simple principle has empowered the people of this country to withstand the British and all other adversities until today. The founding fathers’ belief in self-government has aroused the citizens’ pride in the nation. This nationalism was sparked by desire for freedom and liberty.
The Declaration of Independence was written because we wanted to govern ourselves. Ever since this ideology arose, it has lived on in various ways through different movements, government actions, and wars. It continues to be present today. However, nationalism has changed since its beginnings. It was born as a love for our great country and the passion for the autonomous government apart from the supervision of Great Britain. America's history proves that nationalism has supported this great country. As time progressed, people of this country started to scrutinize the country's actions and motives more closely. They constructed individual opinions and ideas that contested the government. At this point, the nation had to start working hard to win the support of its people. In World War I, the government used propaganda because Americans no longer followed the US government blindly. Over a decade ago, nationalism has transformed itself once more. It was a cushion to fall back on after tragedies, such as 9/11. The entire population of America united after 9/11 to support one another and the troubled country. It is also used as a way to celebrate national triumphs, such as the killing of Osama Bin Laden. Today, this ideology has been refashioned by the division of the country. White Nationalism has been brought back to the social dialogue and black nationalism was restored to resist. The idea of nationalism has changed again and is resorting back to the overall love and support for the country. The goal is to bring America back to its original state: the best nation in the world.
The nationalistic ideology changes the way people view their country and ultimately correlates to how great America can be at any given time. As nationalism has changed over the past centuries, it has always been left to the people to impact the country and guide it in the way they feel is necessary.
The Declaration of Independence was written because we wanted to govern ourselves. Ever since this ideology arose, it has lived on in various ways through different movements, government actions, and wars. It continues to be present today. However, nationalism has changed since its beginnings. It was born as a love for our great country and the passion for the autonomous government apart from the supervision of Great Britain. America's history proves that nationalism has supported this great country. As time progressed, people of this country started to scrutinize the country's actions and motives more closely. They constructed individual opinions and ideas that contested the government. At this point, the nation had to start working hard to win the support of its people. In World War I, the government used propaganda because Americans no longer followed the US government blindly. Over a decade ago, nationalism has transformed itself once more. It was a cushion to fall back on after tragedies, such as 9/11. The entire population of America united after 9/11 to support one another and the troubled country. It is also used as a way to celebrate national triumphs, such as the killing of Osama Bin Laden. Today, this ideology has been refashioned by the division of the country. White Nationalism has been brought back to the social dialogue and black nationalism was restored to resist. The idea of nationalism has changed again and is resorting back to the overall love and support for the country. The goal is to bring America back to its original state: the best nation in the world.
The nationalistic ideology changes the way people view their country and ultimately correlates to how great America can be at any given time. As nationalism has changed over the past centuries, it has always been left to the people to impact the country and guide it in the way they feel is necessary.
"loyalty and devotion to a nation; especially : a sense of national consciousness exalting one nation above all others and placing primary emphasis on promotion of its culture and interests as opposed to those of other nations or supranational groups" (Meriam-Webster)
Coming from the Merriam-Webster dictionary, this is the current definition of nationalism. This definition is the basis of nationalism from its beginning to present day. Simply put, it is putting one's nation first and supporting their interests and actions.
Nationalism |
Patriotism |
The Difference
"Patriotism is proud of a country’s virtues and eager to correct its deficiencies; it also acknowledges the legitimate patriotism of other countries, with their own specific virtues. The pride of nationalism, however, trumpets its country’s virtues and denies its deficiencies, while it is contemptuous toward the virtues of other countries. It wants to be, and proclaims itself to be, “the greatest,” but greatness is not required of a country; only goodness is." — Sydney J. Harris
Quote from "Purely Personal Prejudices" (Harris, Sydney J.):
Sydney J. Harris points out a common misconception in his column "Strictly Personal" in the Chicago Daily. Along with this issue, Harris also pointed out many social and philosophical questions such as why is there consumerism and crime. He clarifies that patriotism and nationalism are not the same thing. The difference between the two is that, "the patriot is being proud of your country for what it does, while the nationalist is proud of its country no matter what it does" (Sydney J. Harris). Nationalism is sometimes frowned upon due to the blindness that comes with it. This blindness and obedience to one's country could be a danger to society. A true nationalist does not remain conscious to their own morals, but instead their morals become the government's or country's actions. The willingness to confide to the country to this extent can be dangerous.
References
The Curious Wanderer. "Mark Twain's Patriotism." A Curious Wanderer, 16 Apr.
2014, acuriouswanderer.wordpress.com/category/favorite-quotes/. Accessed 16
Jan. 2017.
Harris, Sydney J. "Purely Personal Prejudices." Chicago Daily News [Chicago],
1953, Strictly Personal sec. IzQuotes, izquotes.com/quote/235141. Accessed
16 Jan. 2017.
Merriam-Webster, editor. "nationalism." Merriam-Webster, www.merriam-webster.com/
dictionary/nationalism. Accessed 17 Nov. 2016
Quach, Helen. Nationalism. 2011. Pinterest, www.pinterest.com/pin/
563161128375368758/. Accessed 16 Jan. 2017.
2014, acuriouswanderer.wordpress.com/category/favorite-quotes/. Accessed 16
Jan. 2017.
Harris, Sydney J. "Purely Personal Prejudices." Chicago Daily News [Chicago],
1953, Strictly Personal sec. IzQuotes, izquotes.com/quote/235141. Accessed
16 Jan. 2017.
Merriam-Webster, editor. "nationalism." Merriam-Webster, www.merriam-webster.com/
dictionary/nationalism. Accessed 17 Nov. 2016
Quach, Helen. Nationalism. 2011. Pinterest, www.pinterest.com/pin/
563161128375368758/. Accessed 16 Jan. 2017.