Ok I have been reading the front page diaries and something hit. Well it actually has hit me before but now I am convinced it is actual.
I am starting to believe that our sense of nationalism is actually hurting us more than helping us. Usually countries use nationalism to bring the people together to unite, but that is not the case for America right now.
Our nationalism falls more into the category of HUBRIS. We Americans, both democrats, republicans, and independents still without hesitation talk about how great America and how it is the best country in the world.
But this belief stemming from nationalism isn't bringing us together to further our country it is simply blinding us of the bitter realities.
I think a good equivalent microcosm of this are the moderate republicans. For example they believe it is not possible that Bush will actually go forward with a hard right agenda. Everything will more or less stay the same and all will end up fine. But as we (democrats) know there is a strong possibility that Bush promotes far right policies.
Now back to the overall United States and our use of nationalism. We believe that we are the strongest power in the world. This is true but our sense of pride is hurting us because we do not have infinite power. We also believe our economy is fine. The economic indicators like GDP is up, unemployment is down. So what if we are in debt, deficit, and barrowing money? Everyone knows America is the best. It is not imagenable for us to see foreign countries pull out trust in our economy, especially when the rest of the world is trying to play catch-up and would love to surpass us, even if that means hurting America economically because America is in a position of weakness.
But the effects from our nationalism doesn't stop there. For example look at the front page diary.
It simply states, compared to the industrialized nations, Europe leading the way, America ranks towards the bottom in many categories. We are at the bottom of education: reading, scientific literacy, math. (HMM maybe we would bounce back up if rankings added a fourth category of biblical literacy? Nah we already interpret the bible in fucked up way) We have the second to worst case of child poverty. If we turn to the economic side we are well bellow par also. We as Americans, the greatest ever, pure capitalists, laugh at the European system of slightly higher taxes in return for social wellbeing programs. But doesn't that destroy their industrial growth? Well no. They are doing much better in the small business field. As well as being blown away in other high tech industries.
The writing is on the wall. Our nationalistic hubris is hurting us not bringing us together and helping us. But who would dare point this out and make a point of it? If I or you, or anyone else pointed these facts out he would be branded as "hating America" "America is evil" "Marxist" "Socialist" "Communist".
But that is not the case. We do care about America and love America. We care so much about America that we want America to always succeed. We need to stop acting like the 50 year old man that still lives off of his days as the star football player of his high school team.
Thus our American nationalism has caused the beginning of our decline as the true leader in the world in every imagenable positive category to just that... having illusions of grandeur.