| The basis of nationalism entail commonality. Common language. Common culture. Common values. Common geography. When a portion of a population are not in common the nation by definition will crumble. Its an artificial entity to begin with and exists only in the mind of those who believe in it. The idea of a nation and what it entails has only existed for the last few hundred years and as Mr. Lamm pointed out, most are only fleeting and disintegrate over time. Humans don't like to get along, there is something inherently flawed in our species whereby we simply must have drama and angst and discord and discontent... just look at the nightly news for example of the latter and look to Russia, Spain, and the Balkans for comtemporary examples of the former.
The melting pot analogy has been the crux of the USA's survival until now. The idea that when you come to America you assimilate and adopt the language, culture and values to fit in and become part of the nation.
This has changed. The change began with the destructive forces of "victimology" of the 60's and 70's. Now everyone is a bloody victim and to say otherwise is to be insensitive, xenophobic or hypocritical. The forces of political correctness will disolve the backbone of America from within. The white self-flagellating apologists reeling in self-loathing are dominating the landscape and to oppose them is now, already, tabboo.
I think it might be too late. Nikita Kruschev commented on this once back during a visit to the USA. He said something to the effect that one day the hammer and sickle would fly over the capital and not one shot will have been fired in anger. Communism may be a dead fish but the forces Kruschev spoke of are at work. He saw it, he was visionary in that he recognised it in its infancy, that America was going to destroy itself from within.
__________________ "The purpose of fighting is to win. There is no possible victory in defense. The sword is more important than the shield and skill is more important than either. The final weapon is the brain. All else is supplemental." - John Steinbeck |