Deliberate or not, there seems to be some confusion in the air today about nationalism.
It's become something of a dirty word in some circles.
One of those sowing the seeds of misinformation about nationalism is Sen. John McCain.
This week, in an obvious rebuke to President Trump, he suggested nationalism is about fearing the world, abandoning leadership in the world and forgoing the ideal to remain "the last, best hope of earth."
Of course, he was promoting the very worst definition of nationalism – or what he called "some half-baked, spurious nationalism cooked up by people who would rather find scapegoats than solve problems," which he called "as unpatriotic as an attachment to any other tired dogma of the past that Americans consigned to the ash heap of history."
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So, what is the real definition of nationalism?
The dictionary's No. 1 entry is: "the spirit or aspirations common to the whole of a nation." The second is "devotion and loyalty to one's own country; patriotism." Another is: "the desire for national advancement or political independence."
These are not bad, but the proper way to think about nationalism should be considered on the basis of its polar opposite – "internationalism."
And, this is why many Americans, myself included, are now happily calling themselves nationalists. What's the alternative?
In a biblical worldview, we should recognize that God created the nations. There was a time, after the Great Flood, the Bible tells us in Genesis, that God scattered people because they were attempting to unite and build a tower that would reach into the heavens so they could "make a name for themselves."
God scattered them over the earth and divided them with different languages. Why? We're told it was because "nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do."
Why would that be a bad thing? We're told elsewhere in the Bible:
- Genesis 6:5: "the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually."
- Genesis 8:21: "for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth;"
In God's perfect economy, in a perfect, restored world, mankind will no longer "walk any more after the imagination of their evil heart."
Nations were founded, then, to restrain mankind's evil nature. It's not a perfect solution because mankind is not perfect. But, someday, when God's will is done "on earth as it is in heaven," it will be perfected.
Therefore, nation states are the best we can do for now. Again, if you doubt it, think about the alternative – internationalism.
From strictly a pragmatic, liberty-oriented view, the choice is obvious. America was founded on principles of limited government, self-government, constitutional government, rule by law and the will of the people.
That is true virtually nowhere else in the world. For Americans to subsume themselves to the will of unrestrained international rule, unaccountable to the principles of limited government, self-government, constitutional government, the rule of U.S. law and the will of the American people would be disastrous. It would be the end of the liberty so many Americans fought and died to preserve.
Nevertheless, the dream of the Tower of Babel lives on. Today, George Soros is the new Nimrod. He has the support of the United Nations and dozens of other supra-national organizations, many of which he bankrolls with the goal of undermining the two freest nations in the world – the U.S. and Israel.
Here are some questions to ask yourselves if you would prefer internationalism over nationalism – really the only choices we have:
- Do you value the unalienable rights you enjoy uniquely in the USA – free speech, freedom of religion, freedom of the press, the right to bear arms to defend yourself?
- Even though politicians often disappoint, would you prefer to have a say in who governs? Is it better to have politicians accountable to the people and the laws of the land?
- Do you think powerful and wealthy globalists would do a better job of setting the rules than leaders elected, at least in theory, who swear to uphold the U.S. Constitution?
- While America has drifted far from many of the principles upon which it was founded, could things be worse?
- Since internationalists are socialists, how would you feel about the expansion of redistribution of your wealth globally?
That's why I don't find nationalism to be a dirty word – not at all.