Patriotism /Nationalism

According to dictionary, Patriot is one who defends or is zealous for his country’s prosperity, freedom or rights. And Nationalism means patriotic feeling.

1. Leave aside for a moment dictionary meaning. At the ground level what do these words mean or supposed to mean in the case of human beings. ‘ Me and my country vs others and other countries,’ ‘ safeguarding my country against the enemy country.’ And who determines which are the enemy countries. Earlier it was done by kings and now by Governments. Once the Government determines so, it becomes the patriotic duty of the citizens to fight the enemy country. And then the Government may after some time decide that the country which was enemy earlier is no more so.

2. Historically, world over, religious wars, mainly between Christians and Muslims, killed and maimed hundreds of millions of people for centuries in the somewhat distant past. Subsequently, in place of religion, patriotism / nationalism led to slaughter of more people than due to religious strife.

3. When we see a photograph of soldier, grim and determined, with his gun on the shoulder standing on a mountain top at the border, all sorts of feelings arise in our heart; admiration, confidence, patriotism, bravery, etc., The patriotic soldier defending our borders at great personal risk and in inhospitable terrain. Even in times of peace, when soldiers do march past in their uniform, head held high and taking each step with confidence and determination, we are exhilarated and we applaud them. We feel that they are a cut above the ordinary mortals. Some will go to the extent of saying that we sleep peacefully because we have full faith in our armed forces against any enemy attack. In brief, for most of the public, soldiers epitomize the term ‘ patriotic.’

4. Next to God and religion, these are the two most stirring and evocative slogans invented by man. Adhering to or following these two slogans had caused havoc in the lives of millions of men, divided people, led to innumerable number of wars, created abiding hatred between man and man and conditioned men over the millennia to abdicate rationality. For thousands of years man fought man, man killed man in millions in the name of God/Religion/Nationalism/ Patriotism. The conditioning had become so powerful and intense that hardly anybody questions the validity of these two concepts. And those who dare to question are immediately painted or dubbed as unpatriotic and vilified, ostracized and punished by society and / or Government.

5. What is the under lying reason for making man a wild beast through the above mentioned stirring words. Please read the Annexure I to this note.

6. From the quotes of eminent persons given in Annexure II of this write up it would be seen that the above and similar doubts made them to prevaricate their definitions / explanations of patriotism / nationalism.

7. Uncomfortable questions, as below, to which neither those who believe passionately on patriotism / nationalism and Governments have no answers and hence they were silenced by the two evocative words of patriotism and nationalism:

· My motherland is fighting with my adopted land. Which one I should side with.
· Why should I fight five thousand kilometers away in a country because that country is to be taken over by communists.
· Why should I fight against that country which was our alley a decade back.
· When I am living without any trouble with my neighbour who is of another faith, why should I fight another country in the name of faith.
· When two enemy countries merge, was not the earlier killings a waste and inhuman act.
· Who gave the right to a country to determine how another should be ruled.
· I was born in this country and patriotism to me is for this country. But my parents were born in another country and hence their patriotism would be to that country. Now if these two countries wage war against each other, then what are we to do ( Iraqi families settled in USA and have taken citizenship there )..
· I and my wife are from different countries. Hence each of us should be patriotic to our respective countries. But then suppose both the countries fight, then what happens.

· For centuries, large scale migration of people from one country to another happened only on account of natural calamities or wars. That is no the position any more. Millions of Indians are settled in various countries. In many cases they have taken citizenship of those countries. Hence if there is a war between the two countries, who had taken citizenship of that country becomes an enemy.



8. Then there are other related issues, as below:

· It is only soldiers fighting for the country are labeled as patriotic and their deaths are termed as martyrdom. What about those policemen who are fighting naxalites in the country and losing their lives. So also men patrolling borders.
· Two officials of Indian Government die in Indian Embassy due to attack of Taliban in Afghanistan. Not only the death of two Indians has been termed as martyrdom but a two bit politician has also called for national mourning.
· What about a train driver or linesman ( electricity ) dying while doing their job. How is it different from the death of soldiers.
· Except for a miniscule who may feel patriotic duty, most of the people join defense services because it is like any other job. Then why should they be elevated to a higher position.

The fact is that conditioning of centuries had hypnotised us human being to these two evocative slogans. Should not we un-condition ourselves.

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Annexure I

1. A long time ego, virtually eons back, in the era when man was a hunter, I was a hunter par excellent. I was agile, courageous, cunning, could run fast, had good aim, perseverance and a strong body. Because of these traits I could kill animals more than others. As I always had more than I could eat, I gave away part of my booty. This led to others in my clan looking to me for sustenance often. My courage and strong body enabled me to fight others when required and win. All these led to my being accepted as leader of the tribe. Slowly a coterie developed around me who would beckon to my calls and did menial chores for me.

2. When I became old, somebody else who was stronger than me usurped my position. When he was killed by animal or man or disease or natural calamity, another took over. This went on and on for millennia.

3. Then came a clever successor to me. Realising the fact that his leadership would be accepted only so long as he could fight and win, he thought of ways to ensure that he remains leader even when he became weak. He also wanted that in old age he would be given enough to eat. He tried to invent the concept of leader or chief of clan who will be looked after when he becomes weak. He may have failed or partially succeeded.

4. The next stage was when a hunter with all the above qualities described earlier wanted that his woman is taken care of after death. Then came another one who wanted that his children are taken care of.

5. In comes a brainy chap. He manages to see that the leader is declared as chief of the clan, with certain privileges. This was followed by another guy who declared that the Chief has divine powers. And then comes the last one who pronounces that the chief is the descendant of God.

6. More centuries pass. By the time the chief has been elevated to the position of King. Courtiers then started competing between themselves in singing of praise of the king. Not only the King was the descendant of the God, but his progenies were declared as inheritors of the kingdom by virtue of being progenies of the descendant of God.

7. Then comes the next stage of momentous developments. The area of the kingdom was defined. A flag for the kingdom was designed. King’s word was to be the last word. He had the power of life and death of his subjects.’

8. The Kings had everything, i.e., all luxuries available at different periods of time when Kings were absolute rulers of their kingdoms. Opulent palaces, retinue of servants, horses / cars, plenty to eat, three or four wives and innumerable number of concubines. They had the power of life and death over their subjects. Many of them traveled to important world cities and that too in style, meeting their counter-parts in parties and orgies.

9. However, all Kings had two common traits, permanent worry on one count and abiding ambition on the other. One, whether his kingdom would be attacked by other kings. And second, how to vanquish the king of another country and annex that kingdom to what one had.

10. This led to each King maintaining an army of soldiers. But then soldiers should be prepared to not only fight but even give their lives fighting. And the subjects of the Kingdom should also support and sacrifice their lives to ward of threat of attack by another King or for invading another King’s territory.

11. Enter Patriotism and Nationalism. The king determines who are his enemies. Once he makes it known as to who are his enemies, then it becomes patriotic duty of his subjects to fight that enemy when the king called for the same. Fight to kill. The brave were rewarded. It became the patriotic duty of every subject to die for the king in such battles.

12. The system enabled that the king was protected from enemies, though often this entailed death of may of his men. Since they are died in patriotic duty, it was said that they all went to heaven.

13. Many kings wanted to annex other kingdoms, expand their areas, to take the women and horses of other kingdoms or to plunder. Alliances were formed to subjugate mutual enemies. Marital alliances were also formed whereby yesterday’s enemy became a friend today. Marriages broke down and yesterday’s friends became today’s enemies. This led to subjects of a king stopping suddenly killing of subjects of the nearby country, living peacefully with them and then again taking up arms against them. But then it was made known that these were the prerogative of the kings who are the descendents of this or that God. Nobody dared to question having seen the plight of those dared earlier. It was straight to the gallows.

14. The Kings were replaced by Governments, elected or otherwise. Essentially for the two purposes mentioned above, i.e., to defend or annex, the Governments had to ensure that the armed forces and even general public give full support, and even their lives, for waging war or defending their countries. Hence the evocative terms of Patriotism and Nationalism were widely misused by Governments.

15. Hitler, in the name of Nationalism, was able to mesmerize his people to kill Jews in lakhs and many more got killed in wars and killed soldiers of other countries. America, made evocative call, invoking Patriotism, to make Americans fight in Vietnam, South Korea and Iraq, when most of the Americans were not sure whether there was any need for such killing and get killed syndrome.

16. India and Pakistan were one country. Now virtually enemies. So it is patriotic duty of Indians to defend, attack and kill Pakistani soldiers and vice versa. Same is the case of the erstwhile provinces of Soviet Union after they became independent countries.

17. Yesterday’s one country was partitioned to two or three countries. So those who were living together till yesterday as friends became enemies. Conversely when two countries merged, yesterday’s enemies became friends ( East and West Germany ).

18. Hence virtually it is the Governments ( in place of erstwhile kings ) who decided for the public who are the enemies and who are the friends. And clarion calls were issued by the Governments to the subjects that it is the patriotic duty of the subjects to subjugate and if necessary kill enemies and to this end subjects may have to make sacrifices. Token sacrifices were made by those who ruled ( foregoing one day’s salary in a year ). Gullible people thought ‘ really we are being ruled by nice guys who also want to sacrifice.’ Mass hypnotism at its best.

19. Governments involved in this charade first unleashed propaganda ( the other country is the villain ), followed by call of patriotism and nationalism.

20. Society was also seized of patriotic fervour. Killing those who have been declared enemy became patriotic duty of citizens, so said the Government and society. The madness spread. The intelligentsia were also sucked into the patriotic madness and media exhorted people to sacrifice in the name of patriotism. Those who asked sensible questions were silenced by accusation of being ‘ traitor.’
























Annexure II

Quotes of eminent persons:

· Patriotism is your conviction that this country is superior to all others because you were born in it.

· Patriotism is deeper than its symbolic expressions, than sentiments about place and kinship that move us to hold our hands over our hearts during the national anthem. It is putting the country first, before party or personal ambition, before anything. It is the willing acceptance of Americans, both those whose roots here extend back over generations and those who arrived only yesterday, to try to make a nation in which all people share in the promise and responsibilities of freedom. - John McCain ( US Presidential candidate )
· What do we mean by patriotism in the context of our times? I venture to suggest that what we mean is a sense of national responsibility ... a patriotism which is not short, frenzied outbursts of emotion, but the tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime.
· No matter that patriotism is too often the refuge of scoundrels. Dissent, rebellion, and all-around hell-raising remain the true duty of patriots.
· The peace and welfare of this and coming generations of Americans will be secure only as we cling to the watchword of true patriotism: "Our country -- when right to be kept right; when wrong to be put right.
· The heights of popularity and patriotism are still the beaten road to power and tyranny; flattery to treachery; standing armies to arbitrary government; and the glory of God to the temporal interest of the clergy.
· I realise that patriotism is not enough. I must have no hatred or bitterness towards anyone.
· Patriotism ... is a superstition artificially created and maintained through a network of lies and falsehoods; a superstition that robs man of his self-respect and dignity, and increases his arrogance and conceit.
· In the United States, doing good has come to be, like patriotism, a favorite device of persons with something to sell.
· Men in authority will always think that criticism of their policies is dangerous. They will always equate their policies with patriotism, and find criticism subversive.
· Naturally the common people don't want war; neither in Russia, nor in England, nor in America, nor in Germany. That is understood. But after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine policy, and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is to tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country. - Herman Goering
· During times of war, hatred becomes quite respectable, even though it has to masquerade often under the guise of patriotism.
· Each man must for himself alone decide what is right and what is wrong, which course is patriotic and which isn't. You cannot shirk this and be a man. To decide against your conviction is to be an unqualified and excusable traitor, both to yourself and to your country, let me label you as they may. Mark Twain
· The government is merely a servant -- merely a temporary servant; it cannot be its prerogative to determine what is right and what is wrong, and decide who is a patriot and who isn't. Its function is to obey orders, not originate them. – Mark Twain
· Patriotism is proud of a country's virtues and eager to correct its deficiencies; it also acknowledges the legitimate patriotism of other countries, with their own specific virtues. The pride of nationalism, however, trumpets its country's virtues and denies its deficiencies, while it is contemptuous toward the virtues of other countries. It wants to be, and proclaims itself to be, "the greatest," but greatness is not required of a country; only goodness is.
· To announce that there must be no criticism of the president, or that we are to stand by the president, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public
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