Belonging

Throughout human history people have murdered each other in the name of belonging, belonging to a nation. Wars have been fought and lives lost in the name of nationalism, one of the greatest problems that humanity, as a whole, has brought upon itself. Nationalism, a strong sense of belonging, of connection and affiliation with ones country and fellow countrymen, is often the catalyst of dictatorship, genocide and, is usually marked by the feeling of superiority over other countries or races, a kind of ‘us against the world mentality’, also characteristically is the belief that God is on their side whatever they so choose to do. Patriotism has been the subject of many texts. Indeed in many of, infamous dictator, Adolf Hitler’s speeches there is a definite sense of ‘God on our side, us against them’. In complete contrast to the speeches of Hitler, The Bishop of Rwanda by John Rucyahana tells the story from the other side of nationalism, describing the horror of the Rwandan genocide, ostracization the complete opposite of belonging. Finally, on a much smaller scale, closer to home but with just as much impact the Cronulla riots as described by Comparative Studies Australia in their website article Cronulla Riots. Demonstrating, once again the problem that humanity faces with extreme nationalism. “The world will not help, the people must help themselves. Its own strength is the source of life. That strength the Almighty has given us to use; that … we may wage … the battle of our life … others in the past years have not had the blessing of the Almighty.” Spoken by Hitler in his March 1933 address, using the emotive mention of God and inclusive language to create an us against them sentiment, in his listeners. Throughout the tirade Hitler makes constant reference to Germany as Gods chosen nation, to himself as “…under the special protection of God.” “… through God's powerful aid, we have become once more true Germans.” Again emotively inclusive language stirs within his audience a feeling of superiority and of having the protection of God. Of course this kind of language coupled with a passionate delivery is enough to instill a sense of pride and belonging in any audience. Six years later, on the first of December 1939 approximately 1.8 million German nationals, patriotically marching for their leader and their country, invaded Poland. The war that followed was one of the worst ever recorded. WWII. The result of nationalism. The word, tribe can also be defined as nation and on the 6th of April 1994, members of the Hutu nation began the mass murder and genocide of their fellow Rwandans, those of the Tutsi ethnic group. In his book, The Bishop of Rwanda, John Rucyahana, a member of the Tutsi tribe by birth, records some of the nationalist, extremist speeches openly made in governmental meetings, with reference to plans for genocide. Nationalism gone too far! “Why are we waiting to get rid of these Families' … we have to take responsibility into our own hands and wipe out these hoodlums… the fatal mistake we made in 1959 was to let them [the Tutsi] get out… they belong in Ethiopia and we are going to get them a short-cut there by throwing them into the Nyabarongo River [which flows northward] . I must insist on this point. We have to act. Wipe them all out!” using imperative language to spur his listeners into immediate action, the then Prime Minister of Rwanda Jean Kambanda, clearly stated his view, a number of times on the escalating violence in the country and backed the nationalist racism that was evident in the murder up to a million Tutsi and Tutsi sympathizers from amongst the Hutus. The ostracism that the Tutsis felt was enormous. Where they had previously felt they had belonged they were now outcasts. Some of the most horrific stories that the world has ever heard came out of the Rwandan genocide. Again the Result of nationalism. December, 2005 the world looked on with what could only be described as disgust as the beaches of Sydney erupted into violence and chaos. “Many of whom were attacked had lived in Cronulla for most of their lives and considered themselves locals with no problem at all, but from then on just the tone of their skin meant that they were attacked and many were warned not to catch public transport in the area or remain inside.” Using emotive repetition on the word attacked, the authors of the Comparative Studies of Australia website, describe the embarrassment that was the situation in Sydney at the time. The riots, just another example of extreme nationalism. Extreme nationalism, one of the greatest downfalls of humanity and the catalyst for a lot of angst and death in the world. Nationalism, the sole reason that there is never a sense, in the world, of all the people, all races, nations and creeds standing together as the members of the global community.