The commemoration of the one hundredth anniversary of the end of World War I in France was the perfect opportunity to confront Donald J. Trump, and French President Macron seized the moment. As any serious student of history knows, nationalism is widely recognized as one of the principal causes of that great conflagration. Hence, Trump's recent full-throated embrace of nationalism set the stage for the gathering of world leaders in France.
Donald Trump, the consummate snake oil salesman, has convinced his supporters that the cure for all of their ills is a big dose of nationalism. For Trump, America has been playing second fiddle for far too long - it's time to put America first again! Trump tells anyone who will listen that the past leadership of our country was simply too focused on the rest of the world - that they embraced a disease known as globalism.
This notion is at the heart of Trump's take on both domestic and foreign affairs. In the realm of foreign policy, it informs his views on everything from trade to alliances. On the domestic side, it manifests itself most clearly in his attitudes and pronouncements on immigration. And, for Trump, anyone who doesn't share his views on these subject is simply not patriotic - they betray the United States and its interests!
In researching this post, I found this interesting quote from Sydney Harris on what distinguishes nationalism from patriotism. He wrote: "The difference between patriotism and nationalism is that the patriot is proud of his country for what it does, and the nationalist is proud of his country no matter what it does; the first attitude creates a feeling of responsibility, but the second a feeling of blind arrogance that leads to war." see https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Sydney_J._Harris
The ripeness of the moment was not lost on President Macron. On the anniversary of this monument to the horror which nationalism once wrought on the world stage, Macron warned that "old demons" were surfacing once again. He said: “Patriotism is the exact opposite of nationalism. Nationalism is a betrayal of patriotism. By saying our interests first, who cares about the others, we erase what a nation holds dearest, what gives it life, what makes it great and what is essential: its moral values.” see https://www.marketwatch.com/story/in-jab-at-trump-macron-denounces-nationalism-as-betrayal-of-patriotism-2018-11-11
I would like to take this opportunity to say that I wholeheartedly agree with President Macron and repudiate Trump's nationalism! And, just for the record, I served honorably in the United States Army and love my country. Mr. Trump, for you to suggest that a patriot's heart does not beat in my chest is not just insulting - it is a dangerous lie! What do you think? Have you learned the lessons of World War I? Are you a patriot or a nationalist?
Donald Trump, the consummate snake oil salesman, has convinced his supporters that the cure for all of their ills is a big dose of nationalism. For Trump, America has been playing second fiddle for far too long - it's time to put America first again! Trump tells anyone who will listen that the past leadership of our country was simply too focused on the rest of the world - that they embraced a disease known as globalism.
This notion is at the heart of Trump's take on both domestic and foreign affairs. In the realm of foreign policy, it informs his views on everything from trade to alliances. On the domestic side, it manifests itself most clearly in his attitudes and pronouncements on immigration. And, for Trump, anyone who doesn't share his views on these subject is simply not patriotic - they betray the United States and its interests!
In researching this post, I found this interesting quote from Sydney Harris on what distinguishes nationalism from patriotism. He wrote: "The difference between patriotism and nationalism is that the patriot is proud of his country for what it does, and the nationalist is proud of his country no matter what it does; the first attitude creates a feeling of responsibility, but the second a feeling of blind arrogance that leads to war." see https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Sydney_J._Harris
The ripeness of the moment was not lost on President Macron. On the anniversary of this monument to the horror which nationalism once wrought on the world stage, Macron warned that "old demons" were surfacing once again. He said: “Patriotism is the exact opposite of nationalism. Nationalism is a betrayal of patriotism. By saying our interests first, who cares about the others, we erase what a nation holds dearest, what gives it life, what makes it great and what is essential: its moral values.” see https://www.marketwatch.com/story/in-jab-at-trump-macron-denounces-nationalism-as-betrayal-of-patriotism-2018-11-11
I would like to take this opportunity to say that I wholeheartedly agree with President Macron and repudiate Trump's nationalism! And, just for the record, I served honorably in the United States Army and love my country. Mr. Trump, for you to suggest that a patriot's heart does not beat in my chest is not just insulting - it is a dangerous lie! What do you think? Have you learned the lessons of World War I? Are you a patriot or a nationalist?
This comment was posted to my private e-mail address:
ReplyDelete"Trump is all hat and no cattle, as we say in Texas. He criticizes Obama for "underfunding" our military (a questionable assertion) yet uses the excuse of a little rain to avoid honoring American WWI veterans buried in France. And used "bone spurs" as an excuse to avoid service during the Vietnam War (yet criticized John McCain for getting captured). And still his myrmidons adore him. Go figure."
I like how you asess the "ills" you perceive through a lense of economics, nationalism, patriotism and international alliances.
ReplyDeleteAnother take:
Trump won the election in 2016 because of the economy. People are really turning against immigration because the economy has been turning down.
Below is a list of Nationalist Parties and the percentage of the vote they have in Europe.
Austria 26%
Bulgaria 9%
Czech Republic 11%
Denmark 21%
Finland 18%
France 13%
Germany 12.6%
Greeve 7%
Hungary 19%
Italy 17.4%
Netherlands 13%
Slovakia 8%
Sweden 17.6%
Switzerland 29%
This is the trend and we should expect it to now pick up speed after 2018 going into particular 2020.
Even in the United States, there is a rise of nationalism that the left keep calling “racist” but it is a natural trend when people fear they will be losing jobs and benefits to those migrating in.
During the Depression of the 1840s, there were gun battles on the street of Philadelphia concerning the Irish Immigrants taking jobs. They could not call that racism, but it was part of the old English Civil War that never really healed – the Protestant v Catholics. They were burning down Catholic churches in Philadelphia.
nck
I understand the fear that motivates nationalism, but I also recognize that it inspires all kinds of irrational thinking and behavior. As you have pointed out, fear has inspired many horrors down through the ages. FDR was correct - the greatest danger to us is fear itself.
DeleteAn interesting phenomenon is happening. Nationalism, in which individual nations look to their own interests above the global concerns affecting the world in which all nations function, is a principle which is percolating into other areas of protectionism and control.
ReplyDeleteThis is best illustrated by the revelation that Kim Kardashian and Kanye West’s home was saved from a wildfire disaster by a private firefighting force, not a ragtag group of volunteers, but an organized, well-funded, well equipped, highly trained force employed by Kardashian and West’s homeowner’s insurance carrier. One of the executives of that insurance company stated in a post-disaster interview that with global climate change, wildfires have become statistically worse over the past several years, and the only way in which they can protect themselves against huge losses is to dispatch their own firefighters, specifically targeting the homes of their policyholders. Traditional firefighters are civic in nature, and their approach is to control and extinguish the fire holistically as an event, rather than to target and protect individual areas.
From this, my takeaways are that insurance companies are painfully aware that global climate change is fact. Left without recourse in the face of our president having resigned from the Paris Agreement, a multi-billion dollar industry has had to devise its own methods of dealing with climate conditions as they deteriorate, and cause huge losses.
What this clearly means is that disaster response is evolving beyond a civic and egalitarian effort. The wealthy, whether they are part of the liberal Hollywood community or are conservative corporate moguls, will have protection that middle and lower class citizens who are more vulnerable to loss simply can’t afford. Moneyed interests have always had access to mercenaries to protect their resources militarily, and now they are apparently moving towards their own private versions of FEMA response teams!
Revolutions, historically, have been caused by extreme dissatisfaction with the unfairness of the status quo. We’ve been speculating for years that extreme views amongst partisans, if taken to their conclusion, might result in civil war. Now it seems that revolution could be on the future menu as well! Religious prophecy hobbyists, upon failure of their favorite prophecies, usually excuse themselves with the explanation that their prophecies have simply been delayed. I am beginning to believe that Orwell’s “1984” may be what has actually been delayed.
BB
Why Trump will win again in 2020 (bigly)
ReplyDeletePeople vote with their values. That's the big secret that populists understand perfectly well, but progressives and moderates find so difficult to embrace. When progressives wonder in despair why people vote against their self-interest, they fail to understand that these people vote in perfect alignment with the values. The linguist George Lakoff arguments time and again that every conservative policy follows from a strict-father family model, in which men stands above women and children, rich above poor, Christians above other religions, White above other races, etc... Trump is nothing more than the strict dad who follows the logical moral laws of the world. And while conservatives campaign very disciplined on values, liberals keep campaigning ons issues. When Democrat Leader Nancy Pelosi gave her victory speech last week, she claimed that this election was won on the issue of healthcare (I quote: "Let's hear it now for pre-existing medical conditions. yiiiiiy"). That's when I realized we're going to have another 4 years of Trump. Democrats keep bringing steak knives to a gun fight.
Why Trump? A brilliant long-read by George Lakoff
The Framelab Podast with George Lakoff
nck
I agree with Dr. Lakoff that Democrats need to stress the values behind their policies more. However, I would disagree that this concept is completely foreign to progressives. They may not talk about values in terms of the formula he suggests (government of, by and for the people), but they do talk a great deal about the good that government can and does do. It seems to me that this is the antithesis of the Republican message (government is always bad and overreaching). Likewise, progressives talk a great deal about our responsibilities to care for each other and the planet that we share.
DeleteYou cited Pelosi's comment about pre-existing medical conditions, but I don't think voters are that dumb. I think many of them get what that means for them and their families and the principle on which it's founded (I am my brother's keeper).
Trump may indeed be re-elected in 2020. Nevertheless, if that happens, I believe it will be because more folks will have decided that they share his values than those of the progressives. I think that there is a clear understanding in both camps that the values which motivate both sides are very different.
Seriously, aside from the almighty buck, and his associates’ loyalty to himself, what values does Donald Trump have? I think the religious right idolizes him because they believe he will use his power to reverse Row vs Wade. Middle class people seem to feel that he will make them whole again. Racists hope he will make America white again.
ReplyDeleteI just don’t see him leading a resurgence in our national values, although he seems to have much to say about nationalism.
The only consolation is that either Hillary or Bernie would have been worse disasters.
BB
BB, I think Trump is both amoral and immoral - depending on the situation/topic we're looking at. The net effect, however, is to be the antithesis of the moral and civic-minded democratic republican. Trump likes people who like him. He values winning and winners. He believes might makes right, etc. Unfortunately, whether we'd like to face it or not, there are a sizable number of Americans who share these values.
DeleteI do believe that there are many folks who share our repulsion for abortion and would like to see Roe vs Wade overturned to protect innocent life. However, I also think that there is a fairly large number of folks who regard Roe as a major assault on their values, and who would like to see those values reimposed on their fellow countrymen. And, yes, I'm saying that motivation makes a difference.
Finally, I don't believe that Hillary or Bernie would have been worse disasters (they would have been different kinds of disasters). Trump is a direct threat to the institutions of our government and society. Hillary and Bernie represented the kind of threat that always arises when the pendulum swings too far to the right or left. To say that they would have been worse can only serve as a salve for the consciences of those who voted for Trump and now have buyer's remorse. The fact is that it was a major error in judgment to place this man at the helm of a democratic republic! And many of the folks who have (or continue to) support him are loathe to acknowledge that they made a mistake.
Both BB and MJ seem to answer my posting at pointing at the "values" of Trump. I don't care much for the values of a more or less succesful real estate man with a liking for "the good things in life, as long as they are shiny and glitzy."
ReplyDeleteWhat matters is what the electorate believes he can achieve for them. I am pointing at the values of those who voted for him and perhaps the fears where some of these values are embedded.
Likewise on other blogs I have commented on an organisation founded by a person with initials aw and h. My comments there have been largely misunderstood as a defense of said person. Whereas my inner motivation to comment there at all is in defense of the (former) supporters of the system that was presented. Not necesseraly the system itself or the person spearheading it.
In the case of American democracy however I would go a long way to defend the system itself too, although it might have developed its flaws through the passing of time.
nck
NCK, I invite you to look at my original response again - I was speaking of values in terms of a much wider brush stroke than Trump. I too was talking about the values of his supporters and those who oppose him/then. Moreover, I understand that you are not defending Trump - that you are trying to understand the phenomenon.
DeleteI believe that Trump and his supporters pose a direct threat to American democracy. Students of history understand that this republic has never been perfect, and that it has always been becoming a more perfect union. To arrest that progress or return to a time when there was less freedom and equality represents the failure of what was begun on 4 July 1776! In other words, Trump and his supporters are not defending anything - they are determined to put into place something radically different and foreign to our previous experiences as a nation.
The problem was not that people with certain values that he appeared to embrace (some of which I also hold) voted for him. They probably aren’t sufficiently numerous to elect a president. The problem is that Donald Trump inspired a number of valueless haters to get out and vote, people who wanted to reverse much of the positive societal evolution which has taken place since the 1960s, ie formerly closeted Nazis and fascists.
ReplyDeleteBB