English nationalism 'threat to UK'

This link is a new article where you can read about the Nationalism in United Kingdom. What do you think? are you agree or disagree with this new article?

http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/40489000/jpg/_40489253_nationalismuk203.jpg&imgrefurl=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/bbc_parliament/2400861.stm&usg=__VTAxFvSXPOIqY0ta3DE_nh_LerY=&h=152&w=203&sz=15&hl=es&start=5&tbnid=fbJ8iJ0ix4BamM:&tbnh=79&tbnw=105&prev=/images%3Fq%3Denglish%2Bnationalism%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Des%26sa%3DG

English nationalism?

"The problem for English nationalists is, there is no civic nationalism in England, not for immigrants, not for anybody. English have no collective political representation that allows for an expression of our collective political will, and many or most of our cultural and civic institutions have been appropriated for Britain. Scotland has a Scottish parliament to which all Scots, regardless of ethnicity, elect their Scottish representatives. The Scots also have a National Library of Scotland, a National Portrait Gallery and a National Gallery, and much else besides. Taken apart these things mean little, but taken together an immigrant to Scotland - and I lived there myself for five years - is left in little doubt as to what nation they are in. Minority ethnicities in Scotland are much more likely to prefix their ethnicity with “Scottish” than ethnic minorities in England are inclined to prefix their ethnicity with “English”. In fact ethnic minorities in England almost always refer to themselves as “British-[insert ethnicity here]“. It makes sense as that is how the Government defines them".

Do you think that this comment is true? Are you agree with this point of view?

We would like to know the point of view of different english people.

Can there be a state without nationalism?

Depends on what you think of as a "state". Nationalism is really a relatively modern idea. If you take the states of medieval Europe there was often no particular sense of national unity. People defined themselves not as "French" or "Italian" or "German" but by their own personal alleigence or place of origin. Yet France was one kingdom, and what we'd call Germany was part of the Holy Roman Empire - they were "states" of a sort. So history suggests that a state *can* exist without nationalism. It would merely be a different sort of state, bound together by other loyalties. A prime example of how nationalism is not necessary to a functioning state is the United Kingdom - not one nation but four at least. Nationalism in the UK is more a matter of order of preference than exclusive alleigence - English, then british, the english speaking, and so on. Yet it still functions

Can there be a state without nationalism?

Could a viable state exist where there is no nationalism? I think that we have never stopped to think about this topic, so what do you think? are you agree with a state could exist without nationalism? or are you disagree?

Nationalism in Germany

Since 1989, nationalism in Germany has grown at a terrifying pace and has been accompanied by a level of political violence from the extreme Right not seen since the days of the Weimar Republic when Hitler's fascists sought to terrorise all opposition.
This violence, which has resulted in more than 80 fascist killings since 1990 and more than 23,000 Right-wing extremist crimes investigated by the German police in 1993 alone, is the product of the rise of nationalism in a country that has signally failed to come to terms with its recent history and which continues to have judical and law enforcement systems that are "blind in the right eye".
Since reunification, Germany has been the recipient of numerous protests and complaints about racism, antisemitism, fascism and state-inspired nationalist activities from, amongst others, the US State Department, the Russian Foreign Ministry, the Polish Foreign Ministry, the Danish, Czech, Nigerian, Portuguese and Israeli governments, the United Nations refugee organisation UNHCR, the World Jewish Congress, the European Jewish Congress, Amnesty International and the US human rights organisation Helsinki Watch.
All have demanded an end to the racist and antisemitic violence of the German extreme Right and many have put the responsibility for the lawless activities of Germany's 65,000-plus organised right-wing extremists squarely on the shoulders of the German government itself, either for its pitiful inaction in the face of this criminality or, in some cases, actually accusing the government of complicity.
Inside Germany, there exists a very broad consensus of concerned human rights organisations, anti-fascist organisations, some intellectuals, leaders of some opposition political parties, leaders of minority religious and ethnic communities, anti-militarist and trade union groups which takes the matter further. For this broad consensus, the issue of terror and violence, of burning refugee centres, vandalised former Nazi concentration camps and desecrated Jewish property, is summed up in a single German phrase: Die Brandstifter sitzen in Bonn. Translated into English, this phrase loses something but is nonetheless accurate: "the arsonists are sitting in Bonn", a reference to the German government of Chancellor Helmut Kohl.
What might reasonably be termed the resistance - few use the term "opposition" any more in Germany - shares the views of Grass and those who identify the German government and state as central to the problem of nationalism and its evil manifestations.
Two separate nationalist projects exist in Germany: the nazi project and that of the mainstream conservative Right
More and more, they see that, in reality, two separate nationalist projects exist in Germany: the nazi project and that of the mainstream conservative Right, embodied in the ruling Christian Democratic Union and its even more Right-wing counterpart, the Christian Social Union, in Bavaria. Sometimes these projects converge, sometimes they diverge, but almost continuously they run parallel.

19th Century Nationalism

"A country is not merely a geographic territory.... A country is the sense of love which unites as one all the sons and daughters of that geographic territory. So long as a single person amongst you has no vote to represent him in the development of the national life; so long as there is one person left to vegetate in ignorance while others are educated; so long as a single person that is able and willing to work languishes in poverty through lack of a job, you have no country in the sense in which a country ought to exist. The right to vote, education, and employment are the three main pillars of a nation. The life of your country will be immortal so long as you are ready to die for your fellow men and women. "

From Giuseppe Mazzini: A Memoir by E. A. Venturi.

Giuseppe Mazzini, was a leader in the struggle for Italian unification.

NEW TRENDS IN KOREAN NATIONALISM

South Koreans' attitude toward the U.S., as seen in the latest hostage crisis in Afghanistan, was markedly different from the anti-American sentiment vented during the kidnapping and beheading of Kim Sun-il in Iraq in June 2004. Despite some minor protests, the ratification of the Korea-U.S. free trade agreement is proceeding apace, with anti-American, pro-North Korean voices much quieter than they have been.

Several academics say the 20-year-long marriage between the Left and nationalists born in the democratic struggle against authoritarian governments in the 1970s and 1980s is coming to an end. That means farewell to the defensive, registance nationalism produced by Korea’s history in the 20th century. Foreign experts, by contrast, worry that Korean nationalism is becoming more aggressive.

NATIONALISM AND THE CREATION OF ITALY

Nationalism is a way to express your custom and show pride to your country. To be devoted to where you from and stand for your culture and represent. It brings people together as one, as a nation. I'm a nationalistic in many ways. By only wearing your country's colors of the flag your showing nationalism. The majority of people celebrate holidays such as our independence day, July 4th where you go to see fireworks only on that special day. Celebrating common holidays such as Halloween, thanksgiving, or Christmas is showing that you take part of your nation and shows nationalism. The simple tasks of only saying the Pledge of Allegiance every morning in school shows nationalism, and/or saluting the American flag as well. Showing respect and ethnicity for your country is a simple way to describe nationalism.

Italy is a perfect example for nationalism. Nationalism is what brought the people together in Italy and helped them succeed towards their unification. Austria ruled part of Italy during 1815. While time went on, more and more Italians felt they were fed up with their foreign rules, which led them to wanting change. A group by the name Young Italy, which was organized by Giuseppe Mazzini, was a group that contributed towards their unification. Camillo di Cavour also was a another leader that helped lead Italy towards the act of nationalism. Then, with the help of Napoleon the third, they went to war with Austria and were victorious on taking over all of northern Italy. Giuseppe Garibaldi also was one of the leaders to help Italy out. He led a group of army called the Red Shirts and helped out on uniting the southern part of Italy. From the brave actions of these men, Italy became one, with the leaders and all the other people taking part in the quest.

Albert Einstein's Quote

What do you think of this comment by Einstein? Is it accurate?

Ireland, Quebec, Palestine, Euskal Herria

A video of past conflicts in these 4 regions:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYg3KLIQnZ0

Nationalism: Is It Possible?

In countries where provinces and states are divided based on cultural, geographical, linguistic or religious differences, is nationalism of a nation possible? For example, in Canada, where French is spoken in Quebec but English is spoken in the rest of the country, is it possible for Canadian nationalism?

The Basque Attitude Towards ETA

In 2003, 60% of the Basque population rejected the terrorist group ETA. In recent years, the support by the Basque people for ETA has been on a continuous decline. Is this not sufficient evidence enough that states only a small minority of Basque citizens are extremists or terrorists? Does this change your view on the Basque people?

TERROR ATTACK IN BELFAST

What do yo think about the attack in Belfast by IRA after to 11 years?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2leFjNvjnw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itPSjowq4J4&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ve34yam0qYA&feature=related


Thank you

ETA Declaring a Ceasefire

On March 24, 2006 the Basque terrorist group ETA declared a caesefire.

Here is a video with subtitles on what was said:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=689FoInsot0

Please comment on whether or not you think ETA's statements were justified.

Any questions or comments on this video are encouraged.

Quebec's Granting of Special Status

On November 27, 2006, the House of Commons passed a symbolic motion moved by Prime Minister Stephen Harper declaring that "this House recognize[s] that the Québécois form a nation within a united Canada. Essentially the Canadian House of Commons officially recognized the distinctiveness of Quebec and that it is a homeland of people.

http://www2.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?Pub=hansard&Language=E&Mode=1&Parl=39&Ses=1&DocId=2544166&File=0#SOB-1798651

Here is a link displaying exactly what was said on that day.

Do you think this special recognition will promote more Quebec nationalism or Canadian nationalism? Do you think citizens of Quebec will recognize the government's efforts in trying to please them? Was this a good move put forward by the Canadian government?

Also, has anything like this ever happened in your own country?

Any thoughts or comments are welcome.

Causes of Nationalism

What do you think are the root causes of nationalism, despite what country you live in? Is it language and culture that segregates a population? Is it geographical proximity? Do any of these factors weigh more heavily than others? In other words, what causes nationalism in your own country?

Nationalism's Link to Terrorism

How has nationalism in your own country affected your daily lives? If it has, do you feel a sense of hatred towards those nationalists in your country?

WELCOME TO OUR BLOG

We want to know if nationalism exists in your own country


You can tell us about the current nationalist situation in your country by means of comments, videos, photos or anything else you think might be relevant to enhance discussion.



We are 3 students studying Spanish nationalism in England. One of us is Canadian, while the other 2 are from Spain. Nationalism has been something that we have been used to dealing with in our daily lives. Please share anything you know about nationalism in the UK, Canada, Ireland, or wherever else in world. We would love to here others views on nationalism in their own country.




Thank you very much