Nationalism Is A Negative Entity

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Nationalism has many definitions and is a universal entity that can be seen as malevolent or benevolent. Nationalism cannot be limited to one definition because there are far too many aspects of nationalism such as cultural, ethnic, civic, relationship to land, etc. Nationalism can be seen as a double-edged sword which can be used to protect and aid its people. However, this same sword is a weapon; and a weapon’s primary purpose is to inflict harm. Although this double-edged sword is recognized throughout the world, it has never been solely a positive force since its negative side is far more evident. Those that support the source that reads, ‘Nationalism has been a positive force in the world’ would say that nationalism is a good thing for the world and has brought us so many valuable things like patriotism. I, however, disagree with this source because there have been far too many deaths associated with this word and these deaths cannot ever be dismissed. The division and attempted separation of Quebec within Canada and the ultranationalists of Germany prove that nationalism is a negative entity that brings more evil to our world than good.

Differing positions exist on this issue of nationalism being a negative entity. For example when France began to recognize themselves as a whole which brought on the French Revolution in 1789. The monarchy that was in place at the time was a corrupt and immoral one. Society was based on three social groups which were the first class that was about made up of the church, the second class which was made up of the nobles and royalty (the King was above all three classes), and the third class which was everyone else that did not fit into the first or second class. Those in the third class wer...

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...hoarded into a pile and burned. Ultra nationalism can never be seen as a good thing to support in our world if this is what can result from it.

Though nationalism has many definitions and is a universal entity that can be seen in any country, it has proven to be malevolent to those involved. It is a double-edged sword that aims to hurt and cause pain instead of defending a nation. We cannot say that nationalism is a good force and that it benefits society when there have been far too many deaths associated with people coming together to accomplish one common goal. As seen in the division and attempted separation of Quebec within Canada and the ultranationalists of Germany, there will always be something awful that can happen when nationalism is very strong. This proves that nationalism is a negative entity that will always bring more evil to our world than good.

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