Nationalism

Segregation is the adultery of an illicit
intercourse between injustice and immorality.
               Martin Luther King Jr.

Patriotism is when love of your own people comes first; nationalism, when hate for people other than your own comes first.

                    Charles de Gaulle

Whether it is called patriotism or nationalism, both words are used by people referring to the same meaning, in general, with nationalism depicting more of a geographical area. According to Webster Dictionary, Nationalism is: ”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” and Patriotism is: “love for or devotion to one’s country”. For the purpose of this article, let us assume that patriotism and nationalism have the same general meaning of loving one’s country or nation. The question is, whether nationalism leads one to a process of racism and chauvinism, or it is the tool in pursuit of independence and democracy. Deposed kings or those who are exiled from their countries take a fistful of dirt with them to remind them of their homeland, or to get a whiff of their glorious past when they are homesick! This obviously is not nationalism, but idiocy or deceit. The odor of earth is probably different depending on the chemical compound of it, and whether it is picked up from the city ground, or outskirts, or villages, or Home Depot! One may carry with him a rock or a handcraft that is unique to his beloved society, instead. In addition, race, language, custom, tradition, climate and nature are varied in different places on earth. Different countries may have different climates, but a country may have variety of atmospheric changes in different regions. Nature may also be different in parts of a country, while people more or less adapt to the environment easily. Language and looks and attire or fashion may also be different, but one can see variety of tongues and customs and races in a multi-cultural or multi-national society, and within the same border.