Nationalism

BY MICHAEL REISIG –

The definition of nationalism is as follows: “A feeling that people have of being loyal to and proud of their country, often with the belief that it is better and more important than other countries.”

I have given this some consideration and I believe that, along with genuine freedom, it is nationalism that provides a country with its greatest strength – that it is nationalism at the core of any country which secures unity, delivers a composite will to survive through difficult times, and gives individuals the pride and the purpose to keep that entity great. It was through our powerful sense of nationalism that America survived two world wars, and with our courage and pride, kept German from becoming the national language.

Unfortunately, today’s America is several quarts low on nationalism. I don’t think you’d find it in the top five things most Americans consider valuable or important. And I can tell you unequivocally, if America faced a war of the dimensions and the sacrifice of World War II today, we wouldn’t have a prayer. (But then, if that were a Christian prayer, it wouldn’t be allowed anyway.)

The problem is, with nationalism you actually have to love your country – genuinely love it. I truly believe that eliminates at least a third of the people who live here, primarily because this melting pot that we’ve been so proud of for so long, is no longer melting. Today, a huge percentage of Americans pride themselves on their hyphenation – and unfortunately a good portion of these folks carry at best, an indifference for America, and at worst, more resentment in their breasts than gratitude for all this country has provided them. In addition, we face a situation wherein many of the immigrants we are rapidly welcoming, belong to a faith that insists on assimilating us, not the other way around.

But perhaps one of the most disheartening and discouraging factors is the attitude of many of America’s youth. With their hats on backwards and their iphones stuck to their ears, they’re constantly on the prowl for more free stuff this country can give them – the new motto being, “ask not what you can do for your country, but what you’re country can do for you.” John Kennedy must be turning over in his grave. It was the bulk of the 18 to 30 year-olds that went willingly to war to save a country they loved in the years from ’39 to ’45. They threw themselves on the altar of freedom and it was their sacrifices that preserved this nation, God bless them all. Do you see that happening today? How many of those folks in the cities of Detroit, Los Angeles, and Chicago do you see rushing out to serve and save their country?

On top of all this we have a president who places no value on nationalism whatsoever. The first thing he did after being elected was to go on a worldwide tour, apologizing for what America has done in the past – calling us arrogant and selfish… Old Ike, Teddy Roosevelt, and Mr. Reagan must have been moaning with despair from heaven. Since then he has split this country and diminished our nationalism at every opportunity, welcoming illegal immigrants (who have nothing invested in this nation) while virtually attacking the cornerstones of Christian faith and our Constitution, and aggravating America’s challenges with race relations by appearing on television to issue personal opinions contrary to the verdicts of America’s courts. But then perhaps the concept of American nationalism is really a foreign thing to a man who, as a child, never attended a Christian church, or an American school, or waved an American flag at a parade, or went on to serve a single moment as a U.S. soldier.

The views and opinions expressed in this column do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the ownership and staff of The Polk County Pulse. Michael Reisig is a freelance writer and published author whose works are reproduced throughout the globe.

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Jeri Pearson

Jeri is the News Director for Pulse Multi-Media and Editor of The Polk County Pulse. She has 10 years of experience in community focused journalism and has won multiple press association awards.

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