the dangers of extreme nationalism and patriotism?

Listen to what the poster Dannilug is saying.

Here are some very good quotes that give you an idea:

"Patriotism is when love of your own people comes first; nationalism, when hate for people other than your own comes first." ~ Charles De Gaulle

"One of the great attractions of patriotism -- it fulfills our worst wishes. In the person of our nation we are able, vicariously, to bully and cheat. Bully and cheat, what's more, with a feeling that we are profoundly virtuous." ~ Aldous Huxley

"True patriotism hates injustice in its own land more than anywhere else." ~ Clarence Darrow

http://blacksmokelanguage.blogspot.com/

Also check out this site: http://www.sovereignty.org.uk/features/articles/ed...

A person extremely nationalist is not able to see other values beyond his country values, not recognizing other cultures values or universal values. It becomes dangerous when too many people share those values, like in Nazi Germany, for example. The political leaders take advantage of that to pursue wars, invasions, etc. The same happens in some countries such as USA where the Government uses the fear of terrorism to justify violations of human rights either in USA or abroad (invasion, wars, spying, coups d'etats, etc.). In this situation, people who do not share those values may be considered "dangerous". That happened in Germany with Jews, and happens now with Human Rights advocates in USA or other countries. One simple question: Why only the USA has the right to have nuclear weapons (it has been the only country that actually used them against innocent people) and not other countries? Why only the USA has the right to invade countries not caring about the UN? If you ask these questions, extreme patriots and nationalist will consider you "dangerous" and will feel very upset.

What Is Extreme Nationalism

What happening to America is nationalism or patriotism in fact, which decision taken from the heart. And what happen they follow all the way to support BUSH to attack Iraq. Even the next election. History never fail. When a decision come from the head the world will a save place to live. If you add nationalism into your thinking, than you would get more.

wow funky stuff with the quotes there.

nationalism is the extremist way of patriotism. nothing that leads to extremist is any good (destroys the balance of things). in my country, Romania, during history, many people invaded us, so patriotism was needed to survive. after many centuries of struggle, nationalism (over-protectiveness, aggression to things that came from the exterior) seemed correct and fair, but it only made people behave stupid. there is nothing worst than stupid, idiotic ideas (they spread faster than any disease and only make people suffer). that what is bad about it.

patriotism is a bliss. it makes people who share the feeling that they belong somewhere and believing honestly and strong in something fruitful (no matter what it is) can only be a good thing.

911 was neither from patriotism or nationalism. It was from years of Hitler like torture on a population.

The war in Iraq is not due to patriotism, neither nationalism for US.

Extreme nationalism creates Hitler like Israelis with all the negative traits possible. Patriotism is like what Cindy Sheehan advocates. Patriotism is when citizens send soldiers gifts from the homeland to the warzone.

Crooked politicians use patroitism to stir up nationalism to ignite people'e passion to drive them for a certain goal that they want to accomplish.

The danger of extreme anything is the potential for someone to get hurt. No cause (except for self preservation of life) is worth hurting another human being.

9/11, War in iraq, pearl harbor, hiroshima...

blind faith in a leader of the country

giving of yourself and your resources for a cause that is corrupt.