Dear Nameless,
Yes, we all love our countries and there is nothing wrong with that, as long asit is a sane patriotism, but it is dangerous to become too nationalistic. I will look both words up in the Funk and Wagnall's Dictionary and give the definitions here. That should prove interesting:
Patriot: One who loves his country and zealously guards its welfare; especially, a defender of popular liberty.
Patriotic: Characterized by patriotism; intended for the public good.
Patriotism: Devotion to one's country.
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Nationalism: 1. Devotion to the nation as a whole; patriotism. 2. A system demanding national conduct of all industries. 3. A world order founded on the right of each nation to determine its policies unhindered by others; opposed to internationalism, which is a belief in international association and cooperation. 4. A demand for national independence.
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The problems for the United Nations recently which led to this war seem to have been the 3rd and 4th definitions of nationalism. (See above).
We need more internationalism: a belief in international association and cooperation.
It is hard to get that unless we recognize that we are really and truly all one Family of Man. DNA has proved this. Now we have to feel it in our hearts and behave like a good human family to each other.
If we think of this earth as one country, and all humans as its citizens, then we will find better ways to protect the "Global Commons". These are what belong to all of us and are unaffected by borders, such as the oceans and the air we breathe, the water we drink, the weather, and other similar things.
We will become *patriotic world citizens*. We aren't there yet. Even though we have the United Nations, countries are still unwilling to give up any of their sovereignty. They are still sticking to the desire to have more or be superior, or the boss. That is what is hampers the intention to reallyprevent war through the UN. It is what prevents the "security council" and the law enforcing parts of the U.N. from functioning.
Where are world enforced World Laws that make polluters stop polluting air, earth and water? How will we prevent the manipulation of weather for war? We need to finally agree together on each country's borders, and then to stop all wars. This will take a great world meeting. It hasn't happened yet. I think it will before too long, because we can't go on this way, with continual escalations of danger to every living thing. There isn't enough time to fleeto some other planet which we can make livable, although some dreamers hope for that. We will just have to get down to it and grow up as a global civilization.
It doesn't happen yet because nations will not give up some of their sovereignty to permit a really well functioning World Government. As citizens of one world country, that is what we need to do. Get the lasttier of government in place.
If one country in the world attacks another one, then all of the rest of the world's countries should rise up together and put that attacker down. No international war would be tolerated. No country should have any more weapons that it needs to keep order within its own borders.
We need a trustworthy world system that will effect this. We have an International Court of Law. Now we need all countries to take part and we need a true International Police Force to back up the world law court's decisions.
We will develop a world level of true governance in order to stop wars and to also stop people polluting the Global Commons, or managing them for their own individual benefits. For instance there is now a move afoot to use the weather as a weapon. That is really wicked! Imagine if the weather is controlled to bring droughts, or floods to "the enemy". Imagine if thispower is turned to good instead, and we can bring rain to drought suffering areas to avoid famines.
It all depends on whether we are narrowly nationalistic and want it all for ourselves, and forget to care about the other guys, or we are patriotic world citizens of a world government that is functioning for the public good of all.
Oh, I hope to see that day! :-)
Best wishes to you all, some of whom will surely see it. Mary
