Nationalism and Extreme Patriotism: A Threat to Global Peace

"Nationalism is an infantile disease. It is the measles of mankind."~ Albert Einstein

An American patriot is rumored to have once said, "My country, right or wrong, I stand by it." 

While it is arguably a very noble trait to stand up for and support your own country, is deriding another country the way to go about doing it? Was Patriotism really meant to be what we see nowadays? Or has it now been converted into a twisted self-centered propaganda mechanism? Is Nationalism merely is a belief, creed or political ideology that involves an individual identifying with, or becoming attached to, one's nation? Or is it an extreme form of patriotism marked by a feeling of unjustified superiority over other countries?

In the current modern World, Patriotism to the masses is about supporting their country, even when the country is in the wrong. It is about abusing and their "enemies", even when they are suffering. It is about considering themselves morally superior. Why? Just cause it is THEIR country.

The current scenario in Syria provides a proper example. The continuous US-led bombing has killed hundreds of innocents, who were already suffering at the hands of the ISIS. The beautiful and ancient cities have been reduced to rubble. And yet major public opinion in the US is with the Government carrying out more air strikes.   Why? Cause the Government considers the Syrian Government and ISIS as enemies and it is the duty of US citizens to support their Governments wars against the enemies. Innocent lives are merely collateral damage for them. Very often while fighting against something wrong, unknowingly we become what we were fighting against. In India, has Patriotism been reduced to merely supporting our Cricket team during the World Cup and insulting countries like Pakistan and Bangladesh whenever we get a chance?

For an Indian to be patriotic, does he really need to abuse Pakistan and hate Pakistanis? Do we really need to treat people Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan as if they are below us? The moment we say that we are better than them cause this is my country and I will support it to the death, we are throwing logic and reasoning out of the window. And that is the first step to extremism. History is the proof that whenever someone considered their country superior than the others around them, it did not end well for the entire world. Be it Hitler, Napoleon or the English East India Company.

I know a lot of those reading this will argue that all other countries are guilty of doing the same, and they are right! Every country does this while preaching of world peace on the other hand. For the world to be at Peace no country should consider itself morally superior, cause we are all suffering together.

The reason there is so much hatred in our sub-continent is that from the very young age children in India are told that we are better than Pakistan. Similarly, children in Pakistan are manipulated the same way. They are taught to blame India for every minor fault. We are taught to ridicule them and taunt them for everything. In general opinion of India, Pakistan is a barren wasteland of people who only worship God and get trained as a terrorist. Similarly, people in Pakistan might consider India as a bully big brother which wants it destroyed. What either side keep forgetting is that both Pakistan and India are a beautiful part of the very same land. It was all part of the same country once, and the very same world. We ridicule Bangladesh when immigrants cross over to India and refer to them as refugees and consider them as people living on India's mercy. We criticize Sri Lanka, even when Indian fishermen get caught after violating International Maritime Laws. Why? Just cause we should support our country, even when they are wrong?  What we do not understand, is for one to be a proud Indian, hating Pakistan is NOT an essential criterion. Just as to be a proud Hindu, you need NOT hate Muslims or Christians and vice versa.  You can love your country. Doesn't mean you have to hate others.

There is also a huge difference in being an anti-national and ant-Government. Everyone who speaks out against the Government is NOT a terrorist. History is proof that those who oppose their Governments may also be the true patriots. It is the duty of a real patriot, to not only love its country but to also stand up and speak when its Country is doing something wrong.

Extremist Patriotism is to blame behind all hindered peace processes. It is our belief that by insulting and abusing another country, we are actually showing our Patriotism. That does NOT show our Patriotism. It merely incites hatred towards the other Countries and encourages an irrational sense of superiority.  Only through honest dialogue can peace be achieved.

I am not against being proud of our culture and heritage and rich history. I am against anyone considering that their culture and heritage is better than someone else's.

A major problem with India-Pakistan relations has always been the fact that both sides care too much about what was their past and too little about what we can achieve together in the future.