Nationalism
As a term of “nation” is a Latin word that means “a society, which came from same fathers”.In general nationalism is a term of referring to a doctrine and a political movement that holds a nation together with its common language, history, religion, cultur, ethnicity etc. For nationalism, national ideals are more important than universal ideals and individual rights and liberties and thus national interests are more serious.
Nationalism was spread with ideas of the French Revolution. Before revolution, common point that keeps people together and ties them was religion. People divided according to their religious views. After revolution, national values became important and nationalist movement started to spread.
Mostly, nationalism is confused with fascism, racism, chauvinism or patriotism. Chauvinism is one step higher from nationalism. Thinking a nation is more superior than the others, which you belong is chauvinism. Racism is more discriminate between people. Generally it makes groups between races or etnicity characteristics. Sometimes racism is based on some common values like nationalism, but sometimes people base on racism even anybody’s measure of skull. Also fascism is an ideology that involves all of these criterions. But patriotism is not based on trueborn characteristics of individuals. For patriotism, most important thing is citizenship. Interests of a nation is not important as interest of the country.
Also there is a debate that way back exists. How is Atatürk’s nationalism? Is it a “real” nationalism or is it patriotism? Some sources, either which adherent of Atatürk's policy or nationalist, say that Atatürk’s nationalism is chauvinism, it makes discriminations. Some left – wing extremist people also defend this argument. But on the other hand, beyond these sources always say that Atatürk’s nationalism is patriotism. He wanted to keep country together. But is he really a nationalist or a patriotic? Even nowadays thinkers are undecided. But according to my idea, he was a real nationalist. Anyone can make this decision after reading the party ticket of CHP, which Atatürk organized.
Nationalism has always had too many supporters. It has been never decrease; on the contrary it has increase. The reason may be that everybody believes in that their nation is superior or better. Events across the world also help to increase nationalism and it will never disappear until there will no nation left. So it’s impossible.
If the purpose is keep the citizens together and well-being of the state and country, it ought to be patriotism not nationalism. Because, everybody has different ethnicities or history or life style but they live in same land thus we should better describe them with their citizenship. Moreover, we don’t need any common thing buy human to live together and love people.
Actually, nationalism has so many sides to argue. Is it keeping people together, or does it make discrimination? What is the certain definition of nationalism? Is it possible a world without any nation and thus without nationalism? But sometimes I hear about crimes that just because of nation, races or religions, and these all just drive me crazy. If nationalism is based on a revolution and a good thing, why do people are killed just because of these nonsense? I don’t think that value of one life isn’t easy like that.
Still I wonder: Do we have to have any common characteristics for being together? People have always found something to make groups or classes. It has been religion, material situation, color of skin, nation… These groupings are nothing but someone’s interests, they have no other defensible side. Why isn’t it enough that we are humans? Anybody can be Turkish, Kurdish, American, Japanese or etc. Is it important? Why is it important? We have a very important common characteristic that no-one can oppose and change: We are all humans.
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