Thanks for taking the time to structure such a detailed response. I think you raise interesting points..
I cannot answer your question in its entirety but I will contribute some of my thoughts to this subject. First, I do understand your puzzlement at this because I think I could live in England or Australia or some other English speaking country that was relatively free and feel comfortable, I think.
Do you think that may be due to a shared culture, shared politics, and shared language? How about somewhere entirely foreign to you?
For example, Americans are taught from kindergarten that Democracy is the greatest way of life and we are "Free" and other people do not have the same freedoms we have. So, if you never travel outside of America and only watch American news, you would think that we are privileged and the envy and center of the world. Once, however, you travel outside America, you realize other people in other countries are happy too - and free too! You also realize America is not the center of everyone's attention. So, to keep this brief, nationalism is bred from a sense of superior political ideological beliefs and the desire to "evangelize" and "convert" the rest of the world to your "happy" and "superior" way of life.
I'm so sorry if this part will be offensive to anyone, but if I'm going to be honest, this is one of the sickest things I have read. (I realize you're not stating this as your opinion, Patrick.)
This "our way is the best way" and "we are free" rhetoric is truly frightening and sickening.
To add to that, no one, no country, no thing, nothing is the centre of everyone's attention. The mere belief is problematic and raises a red flag. What does it say about people who are unable to see this?
I almost laughed out loud reading the part about envy. Ironically, it sounds like what we hear about North Korea.
The second thing that I think causes it is people's need to belong and to feel like they are part of something. Take, for instance, this INFJ forum - why are people here? Because they want to interact and belong to a group that has similar shared characteristics, values and traits (well, maybe the values are all across the spectrum but there is still a sense of "sharedness" with others that brings them here - Except for @Ubberago, he just has a thing for INFJ females! : - ). There is, of course, nothing wrong with wanting to belong to a group of people, a club, a culture or a way of life but, once that group starts to think they are somehow superior to other groups, then cliques and troubles can form. Think about High School, it happened there - the jocks, the intellectuals, the nerds, the dope heads, the squares, etc... For whatever reason, humans seem drawn to groups and to feeling like they are part of something.
It's interesting that people seek this externally to themselves instead of within themselves, through an acceptance of our inherent humanity and membership within this universe.
I understand the feeling of comfort derived from a sense of belonging... but I guess I don't understand needing to stretch that belonging as far as nationalism or patriotism.
Thirdly, Culture plays a part of it too. I used to think culture was not too big of a deal until I tried to fit in with the Coptic Culture (Egyptian Christians). They (the Copts) are beautiful people but my American culture and their Egyptian culture really did separate us. Not intentionally but it did nevertheless. For example, I do not have anything against Muslims but they (the Copts and Muslims) fought like cats and dogs - I, as an American, had trouble understanding this long standing animosity they hold towards one another but they do. So I think culture can separate people and, when people begin to think their culture is superior, then that causes problems.
Yeah, I hear you. I sometimes worry about my own take on culture, given that I strive to be open-minded and welcoming of diversity, yet I've come to the conclusion that not everyone will get along. That there will be rifts among cultures that may not be bridged, and it is likely we won't understand much about other cultures and about one another, but in no way does this necessitate disrespect or inhumanity toward others. A healthy curiosity, a desire to express mutual respect, appreciation, and support of one another is essential.
Finally, the will to power, to dominate and to consume finite resources cause nationalism too. For whatever reason, there is always a group of people in every nation who are willing to walk all over anyone else in order to gain material comfort and luxuries. Money and luxury can corrupt humans into thinking that things are more important that other humans and they will do whatever is required to secure the things they want and that can breed nationalism.
Yeah, the corrupt often seek power. I think access to money and luxury allows for circumstances that reveal a lack of integrity and social conscience. So I'm of the thought that money is not more powerful than who we are so much so that it has the means to change who we are, but if we lack inner power (integrity) then money will facilitate our ability to act without integrity and will reveal that inner nature. Do you know what I mean?
I think it is fear that drives people to corruption. The panic over survival and the inherent vulnerability of being human that perhaps leads people to prioritize their needs above those of others. Few people can act alone, though. So governments and politics become a means through which to widen one's reach and build a base from which to act in one's interests. Isn't this what happened with the U.S. in the 1960s or so?
Those are just a few of my thoughts.
I am looking forward to hearing others thoughts on this interesting subject as well.[/QUOTE]
