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I think Orwell's distinction between Nationalism and Patriotism reveals something about Zionism: what it is, what's the difference bewteen a Jew that loves his or her country and the mania called Zionism. Also, the basis of common sympathy between Zionists in Israel and the nationalists rather than 'mere' patriots in America.. I think this is also a distinction that Pat Buchanon likes to make and how the leaders of our Republic today are quite different from the folks who originally founded a Republic, rather than an empire of power and prestige.
'By 'nationalism' I mean first of all the habit of assuming that human beings can be classified like insects and that whole blocks of millions or tens of millions of people can be confidently labelled 'good' or 'bad.' But secondly -- and this is much more important -- I mean the habit of identifying oneself with a single nation or other unit, placing it beyond good and evil and recognizing no other duty than that of advancing its interests. Nationalism is not to be confused with patriotism. Both words are normally used in so vague a way that any definition is liable to be challenged, but one must draw a distinction between them, since two different and even opposing ideas are involved. By 'patriotism' I mean devotion to a particular place and a particular way of life, which one believes to be the best in the world but has no wish to force on other people. Patriotism is of its nature defensive, both militarily and culturally. Nationalism, on the other hand, is inseperable from the desire for power. The abiding purpose of every nationalist is to secure more power and more prestige, not for himself but for the nation or other unit in which he has chosen to sink his own individuality.'
It's like what JC said in one of his reply's 'I am an American first, then a Jew'. In fact, this is a sort of contradiction. For instance: If you really are a Christian, a Muslim or a Jew, this must be your 'firstness'- by very definition or rather, as the primary, irreducible axiom of faith. If you are an American or an Israeli 'first', your Christianity or Jewishness must have in some way been lost or at least seriously diminished.
It is fashionable to demounce religion as being responsible for some of the most horrible crimes against humanity in the History of the World. But if you line up the oppressions and cruelties of Religion and the oppressions and cruelties of Nationalism, that case is exceedingly week, though of course the insensible ( incongruous and contradicting) marriage of Religion AND Nationalism ( wherin people pretend their religion is something it was never intended to be) is perhaps the worst of all.
Naturally when Nationalists can disguise the aggressive policy of an empire with the defensive attitude of Patriots- then real damage is done- for the innocent are then dragged into complicity with their own destruction.
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