Imagine there's no nationalism, it isn't hard to do.....

In several articles lately authors comment on a rise in nationalism in certain countries of the world, on all continents. See THIS from the Guardian, and HERE, just two examples. A recent blog post (24 June) at Infidel 753, titled Cultural Nationalism is an interesting read too.

The UK, land of my birth and of which I'm still a citizen, in duality with the USA, is in the throes of increased feelings of nationalism. A passionate anti-European Union movement now exists; this is disappointing, though in some ways understandable. Rather than leaving or destroying the Union, wouldn't it be preferable to at least attempt to fix it? Scotland wants its independence, England, or factions in it, stomp around waving the flag of St. George rather than the Union Jack, and object loudly to more immigrants entering English shores from parts of Europe, and the Commonwealth. "Backward, backward!" instead of "Onward, onward!" is the cry these days then? We know where that backward march would lead, don't we? Or have we forgotten so soon?

Sigh.

I so wish that people of countries who consider themselves to be enlightened, including the UK and the USA, would desist from encouraging an increasingly nationalistic, jingoistic and insular mindset.

H.G. Wells reminded us, long ago, that "Our true nationality is mankind". John Lennon wrote, and sang, "Imagine there's no countries, it isn't hard to do." And in a piece at Counterpunch the other day,
Beyond the Abyss, Winslow Myers in his essay about chaos in Iraq and Syria, but applicable generally wrote:

".....look up at the stars: Look at who you really are, a descendent of these trillions of galaxies. We are one species.........This felt sense of oneness is the great message that bears in upon us from both our biggest challenges and our biggest opportunities — challenges like ocean acidification, rain forest destruction or nuclear proliferation, opportunities for vast networks of communication and understanding represented by the Internet. Global climate chaos encompasses not just physical weather but spiritual weather as well. .....................Great possibilities are known, but the wrong voices are loudest. Let us listen for the smarter, smaller, softer, kinder ones."