Nationalism & Populism, Is There Really Anything Wrong With Being Both?

Nationalism and Populism, is there really anything wrong with being both?

This is the first of a tHREE-part series exploring Nationalism and Populism.

In our world now, everything and everyone is labeled. But, over the years those labels have morphed into having different meanings. The meaning now of meaning a “Conservative” means you are a Republican and “Liberal” means you are a Democrat. Does that mean you can only be a Democrat if you choose to live in a Liberal Democracy? Or you can only be a Republican if you are a Conservative? The answer is a resounding no. The same issue arises when the term to describe someone who is a Nationalist or a Populist. Many people especially in the media link the label of Nationalist to that of fascism. Likewise, a Populist is a socialist. Once again this is not true.

What is a Nationalist?

According to the Merriam Webster dictionary (Here), a Nationalist is “an advocate of or a believer of nationalism. From the same dictionary, nationalism is “loyalty and devotion to a nation”. Nowhere in that definition do I see fascism.

Wikipedia (Here) goes a step further by saying “It further aims to build and maintain a single national identity based on shared social characteristics of culture, ethnicity, geographical locations, langue, government, religion, traditions and belief in a shared singular history and to promote national unity or solidarity.”

Two definitions and not one mention of fascism.

Where did backlash to Nationalism come from?

To answer this question, one needs to go back to the end of the World War Two. This when many of the elite and intelligentsia class claimed it was strictly. Nationalism which turned into fascism caused the war. While two of the three fascist dictators which came from fledging liberal democracies during the Great Depression the desire to put food in stomach clouds your judgement. Decision based on want instead of needing usually turn out better.

 The second of the three fascist dictators in Europe was Adolf Hitler. He came into power in 1933. Hitler, in my opinion was the lynch pin and cause of WW2.   Like most of the rest of Europe communism was the main rival. Next to the Soviet Union, the Communist Party in Germany was the second largest. If you read the Communist Manifesto it is easy to see why in troubles times how the “theory” is extremely attractive. However, the fact that atheism is a tenant in communism was a problem to many. While Nazism was a quasi-religion, Hitler made a pact with the churches they would not be abolished.

To go from a fledging republic to fascist dictatorship does not happen without citizens going through extremely difficult times. Hitler received his assistance from the Versailles Treaty from the end of the Great War, WW1.

The same elite intelligentsia who gave the world the Balfour Declarations in which because of, wars are still be fought today, decided to humiliate the Germans. This was accomplished by taking land, industry and forcing restorations so debilitating it would take 92 years to pay off the reparations.

Initially the Weimar Republic was doing well due to loans from U.S. banks. However, like all loans, eventually they must be repaid. Following the crash of 1929 the banks began to call in their loans. Germany could not pay which resulted in an economic crash.

British economist John Maynard Keyes and U.S. President Herbert Hoover both believed the reparations imposed on Germany in the Versailles treaty were the main cause of the Great Depression. Which is an of unintentional consequences given to the world by an elite intelligentsia idea. (Here)

Once Hitler took power, he began to kick start the economy with public works projects and rearming. Through these projects Hitler allowed people to put food on the table and care for their family. For many this is an attractive proposition.

The third dictator of our three was Francisco Franco of Spain. Another fledgling republic trying to get to get its feet and standing in its way was the utopian theory of ideas between communism and fascism. In what many consider the “practice” war, Hitler was helping Franco while the Soviet Union was on the side of the Republicans. Franco’s party won.

Like all ruling dictators through history, Franco eliminated his political rivals. For the most part, Spain remained neutral during the World War Two. The primary reason was the U.S. was a major trading partner. Franco did allow one division, the Blue Division of volunteers to serve with the German Army. This was done with a guaranteed condition that they only serve on the eastern front in Germany’s war against communism and the Soviet Union.

While all three dictators were anti-Semitic, Spain served as a conduit of travel for Jews exiting the Holocaust. Prior to 1938, Italy was also a safe haven for Jews trying to escape the Holocaust. Its Jewish population had increased from 40,000 to 44000 prior to hostilities beginning.

 To be able to do all this Hitler, Mussolini and Franco all needed help outside early while establishing their governments. Much of that help came from prominent businessmen and companies from the United States. The list included William Randolph Hearst, Joe Kennedy, Andrew Mellon, Prescot Bush, General Motors, G.E. & Standard Oil. We also cannot forget Henry Ford who not only published an anti-Semitic book and received a medal from Hitler. That brings to the “Mutual Admiration Society” between FDR, Hitler, and Mussolini.

Just as if there is no such thing as being a little pregnant, I am not giving Franco and Mussolini a pass. The racism and brutality displayed by Nazi Germany is totally repugnant and more should have been hung following the Nurnberg trails. But it makes you wonder if not enables by the elite and intelligentsia aid U.S businessmen and companies would Adolf Hitler ever been in power? If not for Hitler would the other two dictators been a blip in a long history of people’s lust for power in some far-off place?

In full disclosure, lived in Spain under Franco. We lived in the Costa Del Sol region in a small town named Estepona.

Nationalism Now and Why it is Important.

The world has numerous examples in history when people living in an area whose values are not shared with their neighbors, the state fails. It starts in our neighborhoods then expands into our cities, states and then country. In each of those divisions’ boundaries are set up which we live by. It happens throughout the world in country after country.

In effect the people in world belong to tribes. With the smallest tribe being your family, a group of families living on a block enlarge the tribal members, then the city, state and finally the country. In each group we share and agree on common interests. It is like that in England, France, Germany, Japan, and many other countries. When you see exchange students in universities there is always some type of association which allows them and gives them support from their “tribe”, people with shared experiences, traditions, and culture. This is a concept which pre-dates Aristotle’s work on “Foundation of a Political Life”.

In our country our boundaries are set up by secular law. In some countries those boundaries are established by religion thousands of years ago. In many whose laws are based on religion, the boundaries in which they are living are dead man laws. How can you change them? Whereas secular is current, it may be based on things that happened in the past but in a Liberal Democracy you have the ability change them.

For us, here in the United States we are a tribe of Americans. We share the same government, same history, culture, traditions, and many of the same experiences. You are always drawn to members of your tribe.

Just think about it, you are far from home in another city. You see someone with your hometown team’s logo on it. You ask if they are from there. Your questions just keep making the circle smaller drawing you closer together. If you are lucky that person if from the same city from a rival school. Younger or older does not really matter. When you were there, maybe that schooled kicked your ass in game and you can talk smack or vice versa. It does not really matter because you share the same history, culture, traditions, and experience with that person. They are in your tribe as you are in theirs.

You see that schools band playing in the Rose Bowl parade are marching in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade you did not go there but you are just as proud because they represent you and your tribe. During the World Cup do you think I care what Megan Respino’s politics are? Hell no, she is representing my tribe. We may not agree on everything, but we share a history, experience, culture, and traditions we are a part of the American tribe.

What makes up our tribe.

A Constitution, a flag, a shared history, induvial rights and a shared cultured and traditions. The American culture is a culture that throughout the world citizens of different countries try to emulate. We gave the world, Taco Bell and Micky D’s. Jazz, Hip Hop and Rap are our contributions too. Medicines and other technologies are also part of that culture.

Two of the most misused and misunderstood words we use today are culture and ethnicity. Contrary to some, culture and ethnicity have nothing to with race. It is a shared experienced, traditions, and history, I share with you, you share with me along with other people’s contribution we have something special.  In my hometown of New Orleans when you taste our food, listen to our music, and enjoy our celebrations it is a Gumbo of shared experiences. Contributions were taken from all, Creoles from Haiti, African slaves, Freed People of Color, French from Nova Scotia, Sicilians, Spanish and so many more. No one group could have given us the culture we are proud to call our own. The same goes for the rest of our country. We each have our own shared history and culture. Together we have the American Culture.

Contrary to what some say being a Nationalist it does not make you an anti-immigration person. In essence what it allows you to do is take ownership of your country. You put a value the sacrifices that your ancestors made for you in contributions to our culture, traditions, celebrations, and country. Some did not come of their own free will, yet they still sacrificed for what you have now. Some paid the ultimate sacrifice with their life.

A Nationalist wants to protect our borders like we all protect our homes. Immigration laws are there for a reason. They protect our jobs, schools and so many other things. At a time in our country when unemployment is high, students cannot attend school and businesses are locked down with Unconstitutional practices during a pandemic, it is criminal that our government to allow any illegal immigration.

What is the cost of illegal immigration? It is estimated to cost $132000000000.00. That is translated to $132 Billion. With that money you could give the approximately 20,000,000 people without health insurance $550.00 a month to purchase it. Or you could give the 68,000,000 people on Social Security and extra $2095.00 a year. Me, I would rather take care of my family.

While planes, trains and cars may change over the years human nature does not. Many of the issues we are seeing now have already happened in history. Our failure to take heed makes no sense. One again if you go back 2600 years Aristotle was correct. Guillaume Durocher in the Occidental Observer expressed Aristotle’s thoughts on immigration, diversity, and democracy with the following statement. “Aristotle is greatly concerned with the preservation of civil peace in the city-state. One of the most common causes of “faction” and civil war, he says, was the unhappy consequences of unassimilated immigration and the consequent diversity.”

Furthermore, he says, “Thus, immigration of different peoples was a common source of conflict, often leading to civil war and concluding with the ethnic cleansing of either the native peoples or the invaders. Aristotle’s ideal of citizenship, entailing civic duties and group solidarity, necessarily requires a strong common identity and a sharp differentiation between citizens and foreigners. Conversely, foreign mercenaries had no solidarity with the people, and were thus frequently used by tyrants to enforce their unjust rule.”

He sums it up with this “Aristotle also clearly expresses a related idea, that ethnic homogeneity enables the group solidarity that is needed to throw off tyrannical rule, while a diverse population with a no common identity is easier to rule.”

While at times our history has not been pretty, our country is not perfect yet, and is still a work in progress, one day we will get there. Part of the path there is protecting our house. So, my question is, what is wrong with protecting our house?