Extreme Nationalism (008-176)
Nationalism is often praised at the level of everyday conversations. However, at a level of a profound knowledge-based discourse, thinkers are not happy when discussing nationalism. To most intellectuals, the nationalism approach will lead to a permanent differentiation of human beings from each other. If a Japanese, a German and an Iranian consider themselves nationalists they are always pessimistic about each other, each considering themselves superior to one another.
Nationality is nothing but a mere accident. The same Japanese person could have been born elsewhere in another country; no longer being Japanese, but a non-Japanese citizen. The person being born in Japan is the reason for interest in Japanese nationalism.
Throughout history, wherever there is talk of condemnation concerning a war, the most important thinkers or intellectuals in every corner of the world have raised accusations of extreme nationalism. Various reasons have been given for this issue, but most notably, government efforts to recruit through propaganda of patriotic values.
I personally disagree with the notion of extreme nationalism because of its extremism. Of course, I do not approve the extreme opposition to nationalism either.
Nationalism is a deeply emotion-based approach, and so we ought to respect the feelings and emotions of people. Perhaps, this feeling is similar to the feelings of humans as a family. A family whose members (like neighbours) are all human beings, but they seem different humans to us…
{The root of extreme nationalism is undoubtedly a “sense of national inferiority”. In each era, the only people deeply humiliated for their nationality are such a blatant blow to this hollow drum…}
Translated by Mr Jeremy Perez
