That's essentially it, I'd say too. It's through their affiliation with their nation--more than with anything else in their lives or about themselves--that they can admire and respect themselves, and by a larger margin than the folks with anything going for them. So they defend their idea of the country 24/7 and with everything they've got. As in "Don't you talk about my momma!" from the fatherless child. Ultimately it's R-E-S-P-E-C-T for oneself and for an idea, and not respect for an actual thing, such as it is, however it is. I think it's the same for racists, "marriage sanctity" people, and probably something to do with how much we sympathize with different cultures and different species (the more they embody who we think we are, the more sympathetic we are, dogs more than bugs, blond Swedes more than dark-haired Arabs, if we're Nazis).
Or speaking of Nazi's, the sacred status of the Holocaust to many Jews could be nationalism of a kind by the same mechanism. It becomes easier to admire oneself when down and out or disliked if one can view that status as a consequence of a notorious crime. Ditto for Kosovan Serbs, Northern Ireland Catholics, Palestinians, African Americans etc. (Sorry if I've left anybody out). To be the victim of a notorious crime is to deserve to be better off and to be regarded or treated as if one were. So one wants to identify with the crime, as in its notoriety it is commonly envisioned, or if not yet notorious then one wants to identify and advocate for a history of events in which the criminality is starker. We all know this, don't we?
I'd say it's show me an ultra-nationalist and I'll show you an individual who, but for that ultra-nationalism, would feel more alien and less secure, and who unconsciously fears that prospect greatly.
Another thing that occurs to me: "Nigga" is O.K. between African Americans and "Jew-me" between Jews as a backhanded affirmation of a shared victimhood. It's akin to nationalism.
I don't understand what "latter case" you mean, helmut. I don't think politicians create nationalistic ideologies so much as stoke and steer them--for instance, with retellings of the story of an ancient crime against the group, and by associating or connecting that story with people's current conditions and their dissatisfaction with them. "The Italians brought their pizza-making to America and now every day the cafeteria feeds us processed microwave pizza! Let's send all Italians back to Italy!!"
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...they reallyreallyreally need to feel better about themselves...
That's essentially it, I'd say too. It's through their affiliation with their nation--more than with anything else in their lives or about themselves--that they can admire and respect themselves, and by a larger margin than the folks with anything going for them. So they defend their idea of the country 24/7 and with everything they've got. As in "Don't you talk about my momma!" from the fatherless child. Ultimately it's R-E-S-P-E-C-T for oneself and for an idea, and not respect for an actual thing, such as it is, however it is. I think it's the same for racists, "marriage sanctity" people, and probably something to do with how much we sympathize with different cultures and different species (the more they embody who we think we are, the more sympathetic we are, dogs more than bugs, blond Swedes more than dark-haired Arabs, if we're Nazis).
Or speaking of Nazi's, the sacred status of the Holocaust to many Jews could be nationalism of a kind by the same mechanism. It becomes easier to admire oneself when down and out or disliked if one can view that status as a consequence of a notorious crime. Ditto for Kosovan Serbs, Northern Ireland Catholics, Palestinians, African Americans etc. (Sorry if I've left anybody out). To be the victim of a notorious crime is to deserve to be better off and to be regarded or treated as if one were. So one wants to identify with the crime, as in its notoriety it is commonly envisioned, or if not yet notorious then one wants to identify and advocate for a history of events in which the criminality is starker. We all know this, don't we?
"...regarded or treated as if one were (better off/more accomplished)"
Is that really it, then? Show me an ultra-nationalist and I'll show you an alienated and insecure individual?
And in the latter case, MT, isn't this often essentially an ideology with political goals (usually spurred by politicians with particular interests)?
I'd say it's show me an ultra-nationalist and I'll show you an individual who, but for that ultra-nationalism, would feel more alien and less secure, and who unconsciously fears that prospect greatly.
Another thing that occurs to me: "Nigga" is O.K. between African Americans and "Jew-me" between Jews as a backhanded affirmation of a shared victimhood. It's akin to nationalism.
I don't understand what "latter case" you mean, helmut. I don't think politicians create nationalistic ideologies so much as stoke and steer them--for instance, with retellings of the story of an ancient crime against the group, and by associating or connecting that story with people's current conditions and their dissatisfaction with them. "The Italians brought their pizza-making to America and now every day the cafeteria feeds us processed microwave pizza! Let's send all Italians back to Italy!!"
...this is all very third chakra...
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