In the age of Obama we have witnessed attacks from the left which have refashioned conventional words into insults. The terms are twisted into slurs usually intended to demean the target, when no intelligent or rational argument can be constructed to counter a position. One such word, nationalism, has achieved prominence in use as an insult in only eight years.
Under the Obama/Jarrett regime, anything resembling patriotism has required an imposition of slander and derogation. The Nation’s flag and the national anthem are sources of derision and too often trampled on. In the world of socialism and global redistribution, and ever since Obama’s original apology tour, nationalism has been contorted to symbolize colonialism, imperialism and that ultimate deprecation, hegemony — particularly American hegemony.
Once upon a time nationalism might have meant liberty, equality, and fraternity. The American revolution was a manifestation of nationalism in a population aspiring to achieve liberty, equality and self determination. Hatred of nationalism and the use of the term in disparaging fashion has exceeded the left’s loathing accusations of, “you capitalist”. It doesn’t seem to grasp that we do not have capitalism, but have slid into crony capitalism. The left, along with the new crop of globalists, have launched international movements to convince us that Nationalism and Capitalism are apparently the bane of humanity.
Strangely, under the current Administration, crony capitalism has reached levels of too-big-to-fail unsurpassed in history. Throughout its term, this self-serving Administration, has verbally abused big banks, big business, and capitalism, while its actions have in fact consistently and repeatedly betrayed its pretense at the teleprompter. As members of this Administration retired, they retreated to the multi-million dollar cash collection positions waiting to thank them for having sold-out their millions of uninformed supporters. Do any of them ask Eric Holder whose cash is behind those new pay checks of his?
Evidently, the more guilt you are propelled to feel about nationalism and its twin, capitalism, which the left pretends get used to propagate external dominance, the less patriotic you will be. The less patriotic you feel the more likely you will be to succumb to globalism. Once you buy the globalist mantra, you’re already on the forced wealth-redistribution train. That globalist train has absolutely nothing to do with broadening human knowledge through diversification of affiliations and exposure.
It is human nature to want to self-actualize, and it is human nature to be tribal and homophily. That has long been evidenced and has been at the root of human survival. Additionally, we are forever conflicted and pulled between our selfless and our selfish impulses. However, patriotism need not include isolationism, or protectionism. While nationalism may infer support of a powerful central government, it need not mean aggression. Meanwhile a weak nation cannot protect itself, nor protect or support its people, nor anyone else.
So, while the anesthetized media does all it can to manufacture consent and adulation for the soon to be, world’s globalist-in-chief, the need has never been stronger to reject slights in the twisted meanings of “nationalism” and to fully grasp the notion of “patriotism”. For either term, Mark Twain’s words should prevail, “Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.”
A constituent of the vast baby boomer generation with a career which has been fortunate to know the ponderous corporate worlds, as well as the intimately pressurized, and invigorating entrepreneurial domains of high tech and venture capital, I have harvested my share of mistakes meandering through corridors of enterprise from Silicon Valley, to London and endless, colourful, sometimes praetorian points in between. The voyage has provided an abundance of fodder for a pen yielding to an inquisitive keyboard, a foraging mind, and a passionate spirit.
Whether political or business or social or economic or personal, is it not all political? It is a privilege to write, and an even greater privilege to be read by anyone, and sometimes with the wind at my back the writing may occasionally be legible. I do not write to invite scorn, nor to invite respect, but if I get really lucky the writing can stimulate thinking. I also write for the very selfish purpose of animating my own processes, and engaging the best of what life offers. Above all, whether biting fire or swatting shadows, I am grateful to be gifted the freedom to write and publish whatever flows down to the keyboard. To all those who enabled this freedom, and to all those standing guard to preserve it, I am indebted.
Have you noticed how little personal incentive these anti-nationalists and anti-capitalists and pro-globalists have.
Collectively they can’t keep the electricity on for more than a few hours a day or keep jobs open more than 2 days a week…..once they’ve run out of other people’s money.
So, what’s their end game?
Everybody be miserable?
Everybody fighting over the scraps?
There are already self-sustainable cruise ships for the super-rich who can stay at sea forever if necessary.
There are whole islands and emerits (armed enclaves) where super-rich people can live without being victims of forced redistribution mobs.
Where is Obama planning on living post-presidency? Why is he politiking for double the retirement perks for ex-presidents?
@Nanny G: #1
Nanny G, since he’s never had a real job, he’ll follow in the footsteps of the Clintons, living off someone else’s earnings. Only diff. will be he’ll have even more cash and more mansions.
He’s as talented at ‘glad handing’ as Slick Willy, and there are millions of America-hating redistributors around the world who will anoint him their leader.
I think the big money/bankers screwed up big-time and over reached big-time with owning clueless pols like O. over the last 20 years, and having had free reign over The Fed.
@Nanny G: #1
Nanny G, you’ve about nailed it here.
Millions of ignorants, following orders to revolt against their own best interests. The puppet masters are vile. You just look at a guy like Soros – who and what he is, and that tells you plenty. He finances violent demonstrations against Trump, with lies, to fuel anger, and sits in his penthouse, uncaring about who gets hurt or killed on the streets. None of these fools on the street know anything about puppet masters such as this clown. The gang leaders get paid and the minions do the bidding.
As you know, socialism/communism – a game of manipulating fools into submission, while the few dictate, even as they fight amongst themselves, which is why a ruthless strongman always surfaces.