Civic Register
| 10.23.18
Trump: ‘You Know What I Am? I’m a Nationalist’
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What’s the story?
- Speaking at a campaign rally on Monday, President Donald Trump declared himself to be a “nationalist” in contrast to Democrats and “globalists” who put world before country.
- "A globalist is a person that wants the globe to do well, frankly, not caring about our country so much. And you know what? We can't have that,” Trump told the crowd at a Houston rally for Sen. Ted Cruz.
“You know, they have a word. It sort of became old-fashioned. It's called a nationalist. And I say, really, we're not supposed to use that word. You know what I am? I'm a nationalist, OK? I'm a nationalist.”
- The audience inside Houston’s Toyota Center cheered wildly, chanting “USA!”
What’s a nationalist?
- In its most pure, Merriam-Webster form, a nationalist is someone loyal and devoted to their country who exalts “one nation above all others” and places “primary emphasis on promotion of [their nation’s] culture and interests as opposed to those of other nations or supranational groups."
- The term has often been used to describe Trump’s “America first” agenda, which includes a populist rhetoric against unauthorized immigrants, protectionist trade policies, cuts in legal immigration, and the so-called "Muslim ban."
- “Nationalist,” however, also carries historical baggage, as both Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan were considered examples of runaway nationalism. It’s also been cited for the ethnic cleansing in Bosnia in the 1990s.
- And in the wake of the Charlottesville "Unite the Right rally," there was much talk about “white nationalists,” which the Southern Poverty Law Center describes as groups who:
“[E]spouse white supremacist or white separatist ideologies, often focusing on the alleged inferiority of nonwhites. Groups listed in a variety of other categories - Ku Klux Klan, neo-Confederate, neo-Nazi, racist skinhead, and Christian Identity - could also be fairly described as white nationalist.”
Is nationalism patriotism?
The Street explained how it’s not:
“Patriotism can be seen in things like the singing of the national anthem at a World Cup soccer game, the decorations on a table for the 4th of July, or the dedication service men and women show through their heroism.”
Nationalism, however, “is more the promotion of a nation's culture, language, and supremacy above others. In this sense, nationalism is often race or ethnicity-driven, which can have dangerous implications.”
"Patriotism is when love of your own people comes first; nationalism, when hate for people other than your own comes first." —Charles de Gaulle
What are people saying about Trump labeling himself a nationalist?
- Conservative commentator, and recipient of a Trump pardon, Dinesh D’Souza, tweeted:
- CNN anchor Don Lemon criticized Trump’s use of the word, saying it’s “a favorite of the alt-right and is loaded with nativist and racial undertones."
"And 'globalist.' Well, globalist has been used as a slur of sorts, sometimes even against those in the administration, often with anti-Semitic overtones. Which just happened to make the president come right out and embrace nationalism. Openly. And claim that mantle.”
What do you think?
Are you concerned about Trump's use of the word "nationalist"? Do you consider yourself a nationalist? Take action and tell your reps, then share your thoughts below.
—Josh Herman
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