Nationalism; Supposedly a shared identify, mutual heritage in which people carry the glory of the nations on their shoulders. How many times had we heard about common trends in a nation, a way of being and of acting, or even some noble virtues like freedom and compassion. All said to be inherited in this supposed thing called nation.
And sure, there's also the fun of all sports. What would be the point in most competitions if it wasn't for being able to root for your motherland, or simply for your favorite among a big group? what would be of all this?
Yet I have come to the personal conclusion that nationalism is nothing but an unnecessary chain. Why carry it? why bring with you such burden? There are many "nations" that I like appareantly. There's Russia with all of its passion, and Japan with all of its discipline, China with its tradition, and France with her joy. Yet, do I really like such thing as a nation? do I really like any of these nations? No, maybe not. Maybe what I have liked and still like is individuals. Yes, individuals that simply have been born in such lands and created such things. Yes, either they have been born and fed there for a reason, and maybe not but that doesn't mean to feel obliged to like such thing as nation.
It is my most spontaneous opinion that nationalism doesn't lead anywhere, but to a place of discrimination, of not being able to see reality as it is, but simply as how you want it to be. Nationalism is as real as the tooth fairy. You are there for when the nation needs you, but when is the nation when you need it? And sure, nation and goverment are not one and the same. But let's not speak about govermment, let's not waste time speaking about something which does not belong to the ground I want to mention.
We are now in the XXI century, time of globalization. Both with its good and its bad. Yet in some countries, in most of them this thing nationality still exists. I humbly ask why? what's the purpose for such thing? to go to wars? defend a territory in name of the motherland, even if it costs your own life? what for?
Life is an individual experience. During our lives we meet so many people, but we don't stay attach to them, nor we become part of their lives or they of ours. Unless we're speaking about family, or really good friends. But those aren't usually many during one's own live.
If the circle of trust in one's life is already small, why try to make a whole "nation" fit into it?
Not to mention, that my concept and even my pride of nationality can be completely antagonic to the one of a fellow countryman. So isn't this a whole charade? how can we both defend supposedly the nation, its values. When those values themselves, can be completely different to me from those he sees?
Nations don't give artists. They don't give scientists. They don't give people, just numbers. In those lands alienated by names given by human many bright minds have been born. But they're the result of the closest family.. of the parents, even of siblings. But of a whole thing? No... they're not.
If lands were nations, and nations were trees how could we distinguish a good tree from a bad one, if all trees give both nice and rotten fruits? it's impossible! the concept of nation is flawed!
It's simply better, and also much easier keeping oneself to the individual identity. Without being pulled or dragged by an external body of which one has no control. Even worse, judging oneself according to the values set long ago in the land where one was coincidentally born.
I simply think that in the moment we stop caring and seeing individual per individual, and enter into the frenzy roulette of nationalism we lose our head. We submit by our own will to be blind. Is this really positive? if so, in what kind of wicked sense?
Yes, nationalism is a beautiful concept. Just as beautiful as imagining fantastic creatures living vividly in the depths of the lunar forest. That does not mean it exists. Just like the moon, it deceives. For all the myths, for all the Tristan et Isolde, for all the Ruslan and Lyudmila, Popol Vuh.. for all Bochica, Libuse, Merlin and Amaterasu... for all of them there have been and will probably be wars and stupid sacrifices.
"The mortal dies for his motherland, for his nation. Yet once dead, it's nothing but a corpse resting and rotting on the ground"
I ask, where's the nation?
Live by individualism, care for your brother as it was yourself. Do not alienate yourself from the ocean of people, yet don't become just another fish in the pond.
