Nationalism. Is there an up side?

[Jason]

Care for some vindaloo?

[ronmcd]

Care for some vindaloo?

Smoked kipper?

[Jason]

Only if it's curried.

[PsychoSerenity]

Nationalism =/= diversity.

...and conversely, world government =/= homogeneity.

Agreed on both points.

Though the word "government " has rather a lot of negative connotations for me. I'd go for "understanding and cooperation".

[Elderito]

Here in the USA nationalism is definitely a stumbling block. Demagogues are able to blind citizens to the problems in our society by chanting "We're number one" constantly.
Health Care reform?? No we have best system in the world 'cause "we're number one"
USA a world citizen?? Hell no !! If they cross us bomb 'em they should know "We're number one"
Global Warming?? Couldn't be us "We're number one!!"
That type of thinking makes it impossible for many Americans to consider solutions found abroad, makes us insular, and keeps us from considering alternative solutions to our problems.

[Pappa]

When I was a kid I read loads of science fiction. I was an idealist too and I figured that one day we would have some kind of world government that was wise, beneficent and liberal.

All silly of course given the state of things these days.

Is nationalism defensible these days when all it appears to offer is difference rather than commonality, splitting rather than uniting, excluding rather than including?

Should we not be breaking down barriers rather than creating them?

You're a Little Englander. You are a part of what you hate. Stir your mug of Horlicks with that idea as you go to bed, tonight.

As an example, Scottish independence is being sought after because Westminster has been doing a shit job of it for too many years. If it had been doing a great job, independence would be a non-starter from the outset. This isn't about nationalism (and you've been told that more than once, you fuckwit) but self-determination... because distant-determination doesn't work.

One world government? Great. So long as it has subdivisions that do their best for their own people. Hell, let's go all out and call them... oh, I dunno... "countries".

Alles klar?

With you? Probably not.

Red Celt, this is a reminder that personal attacks are against the rules.

[Red Celt]

Oh Jesus Fucking Christ.

[Jason]

Oh Jesus Fucking Christ.

Red Celt, this is a reminder that blasphemy is punishable by Lozzer.

Oh Jesus Christ!

[Gallstones]

Is this about nationalism or patriotism?

[JimC]

Are you Scots still bleeding for Wallace?

[ronmcd]

Are you Scots still bleeding for Wallace?

Nah, not really. He's not all that great

[Gallstones]

Without differences there could be no progress. Change is necessary for progress and that means thinking and doing differently. Differences inspire ideas, sameness does not. Sameness is status quo.

[That Alien Guy.]

Yes. Fight and struggle! We're mid-season at the moment and the advertisers are a bit aggressive, they are asking us to provoke a genocide in Syria, I've tried to assure them that they'll get that even if the other chimp tribes don't intervene.

Work with me here chimps, your survival depends on your ratings.

[JimC]

Without differences there could be no progress. Change is necessary for progress and that means thinking and doing differently. Differences inspire ideas, sameness does not. Sameness is status quo.

One can agree with that, while still worrying about the hominid tendency to fear/hate those that are different to one's tribe...

[Hermit]

Without differences there could be no progress.

Yes. That's why we would never have found out that the earth is not flat, were it not for nationalism. Or women getting the vote.