What is Idealistic Nationalism? - The Definition and Meaning

 

Source-The Quint

Nationalism is a sacred passion, a great moral and ethical belief, a social expression on a national plane, and immense love for the country. A true nationalist is someone who regards one’s country as the main cause of his existence and is ready to forget his own personal interests for its welfare. 

A true nationalist never think twice before sacrificing everything including his life for the nation. Such people deserve all the adoration and glorification as an incarnation of super-being. Poets compose verses in honor of his deeds and everyone prays for his immorality. 

After death he is treated as an eternal foundation of inspiration, an ideal to be followed by all, a beacon light that shows the right path even after his departure. 

Ideals of Nationalism 

Nationalism can’t be treated as a passive thing or an inconspicuous way of leading life. It is such an active and self-motivated, inner emotion that urges one to do and dare anything for the cause of the nation.

They die so that others may live. There are many instances even in the history of our freedom struggle where for the motherland many suffered unimaginable hardships and many sacrificed their lives such as Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Subhash Chandra Bose, Mahatma Gandhi. 

Since time immemorial, in all histories of civilization, nationalism has remained and been regarded as a subject of eloquent praise on the lips of everybody.

The love and attachment to one's motherland are not unnatural, its roots lie in the affection one receives since birth, plays, and nurtures in that land. Everyone has the feeling of nationalism, love for his country.

An unknown poet has beautifully coded the following lines which show the feeling of immense love for motherhood:

‘O for a glimpse of my Motherland so fair! O for a breath of its sweet-scented air! They let me live and oh, therez let me die! There in sweet silence, my dead body shall lie.”

Evils of Nationalism 

Nothing is wrong in loving one’s country and nothing is wrong with being loyal towards it but if the love and loyalty results in hatred for all other countrymen and other nations it becomes evil.

Blind nationalism forces the mind to make insane decisions just like how the unnatural shoes worn by Chinese women compress and distort their feet. Nationalism when outruns its reasonable limits, becomes organized hypocrisy, creates hatred for other nations. Extreme nationalism glorifies war. 

Nationalism, when diverted from the path of reason and the common good, quite often loses its sacred instincts and degenerates into aggressive attitudes of nationalism.

A nationalist without high moral and ethical considerations adores his country blindly and treats all other people of the earth as downright barbarians, deserving for his countrymen no better treatment. 

How do we perceive the love for a country?

Cecil Rhodes wrote in his will: “ I contend that the British race is the finest which history has yet produced.” Victor Hugo said: “ O France, it is the need of the Universe that thou shouldst live.

I repeat it, France is necessary for the human race.” It never felt by these men that other races and people are also created by the same Almighty and are no less than their countrymen. 

Many European nations carried out their mission of dominance and tried to implant the same by force over other countries. Nationalism, if mixed with unworthy motives and self-centered greed for power and imperialistic motives, becomes the worst cause to destroy and destroy the existence of civilization in the world. 

The foolishness of irrational nationalism can well be seen in the writings of Ruper Brooke who wrote that when he died he wished to go to an English Heaven. 

Many enlightened thinkers have tried to portray the idea that we should consider that the whole world is one nation for everyone. Despite various evils of nationalism, it is a natural feeling acquired not by any technical means but by birth and is a virtue by itself. 

Loving one’s mother or father is not bad, but hatred of other nations is indeed the worst form of nationalism. 

Nationalism if spiritualized with higher moral and ethical values and if in agreement with the motto of Abraham Lincoln,’ With malice towards none, with charity for all, it will indeed become one of the most sacred emotions, worthy of the utmost praise. 

The nationalism of Hitler and Mussolini would be the worst form of nationalism in years to come as well. We need nationalism with love for our country as well as for all to live and let live with peace, prosperity, and affection towards all. 

         

Written by-Devika Thapar