- Anything Else -

Nationalism vs. patriotism

Posted by: Nikhil Jaikumar ( Democratic Socialists of America, MA, USA ) on August 20, 1999 at 15:42:53:

In Reply to: Aye. posted by Red Deathy on August 19, 1999 at 01:18:51:

RD, in my opinion, patriotism is different from racism and national-supremism for the following main reasons.

1. Patriotism is different from racism because the nation has an existence in objective reality, while races do not. it is the conclusion of modern science that the concept of human "races" has no biological basis. Many Africans and native Australians have similar skin colors, but genetically these two groups are the most distinct of any human groups (of course, the genetic vribaility within humankind in general is utterly piddly and trivial.). depending on what you use as your sorting criterion (skin color, lactose intolerance, blood proteins) you could slice up teh human pie in many different ways. So race has no scientific basis. the nation however, has a geographic and historical reality.

2. The difference between patriotism and national supremism is teh following. one states that "My country is superior to all others in a GENERAL sense, in all significant respects, and objectively." the other states that "My country is objectively better in certain specific respects, and is better FOR ME.' For example, I believe America is the one and only country for ME, because my own personal values etc. are most at home in the American envioronment. But I don't say that America is superior in a genmeral, objective sense to all other countries.


Follow Ups:

The Debating Room Post a Followup