National Unity & Hatred

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What are these things called "nations" anyway? Why are persons so
deeply attached to them, and why does everyone get so excited about them?

Writing about the First World War, Randolph Bourne observed that the
leaders demand a "100% Americanism among 100% of the population." The State,
he notes, is a "jealous God and will brook no rivals" It brings a terrific
force to bear against "heretics."

A full page advertisement appeared in the Arkansas Gazette, Little
Rock, Arkansas, Sunday, April 14, 1918:

"Any man or woman in this town, who does not take all the Liberty Bonds that
he or she possible can buy, is in exactly the same class with those wretched
creatures of feeble brain and feeble spine, those cowards we call 'SLACKERS.'
Such men and women are not fit to associate with Real Americans. Such men and
women are not fit to live in this community, or anywhere else in America.
They are not fit to live at all."

What a durable phenomenon nationalism is! Scholars write about "mental
representation" and "social construction." However in the hysteria of the
hyper real they lose their minds along with everyone else.

"And the rockets red glare, bombs bursting in air, gave proof through the
night that our flag was still there." Bourne notes that a nation's patriotic
history is solely "the history of its wars," that is, of "the State in its
healthy and glorious functioning."

War testifies to the existence of nations, reminding us that they are more
than mental representations or social constructions. The reasoning is as
follows: If some thing can mobilize great armies, drop bombs and kill, it
must be real. Armies, bombs and killing function to PROVE THAT THE NATION IS
REAL. Wars are undertaken in order to valorize, validate or verify the
existence if nations.

However, why is it necessary that everyone participate, or at least affirm
agreement with the national cause? Why is absolute unity, complete unanimity
insisted upon?

They say that we live in a "secular" age. What an interesting fantasy.
Religion is everywhere, all around us.

"National life" is the contemporary religion. The eleven o' clock -news is
part of this religion, as is Charlie Rose and the New York Times. Nobody
wants to be left out (it's a family affair). Slavoj Zizek doesn't want to be
left out. We are so close to the object that we worship that we barely know
that it is separate from the self. We so attach to the object that we worship
that some (those most deeply attached to the fantasy of culture) assert that
without this attachment there is no such thing as a subject. Nationalism is
symbiotic fantasy of union with an omnipotent object. This object and those
who represent it are imagined to be big and powerful and "up above" us.

"It's not nice to fool Mother Nature!"

Hitler stated that his aim was "dictatorship of the whole people, the
community." His mission was to win men to the idea of an "eternal national
and social ideal--to subordinate one's own interests to the interests of the
whole society."

By 1935 he believed that his dream had been fulfilled. Nevertheless, he
complained: there still seemed to be a few "incurables" who had never
understood the "happiness of belonging to this great, inspiring community."

Hitler's imagined that some persons refused to embrace his dream of glorious
national unity. He found this unbearable. He felt the need to exterminate
these "party poopers." "We are fanatic in our love for our people," Hitler
said. We can go as loyally as a dog with those who share our sincerity, but
we will pursue with fanatic hatred the man who believes that he can play
tricks with this love of ours." Hitler's rage was directed against those who
did not share his faith.

The passionate nationalist is enraged by "non-believers," those who seem to
turn against the national dream of power and glory. He may even feel (see
the newspaper article above) that these infidels are "not fit to live."

It is not self-evident why some feel that everyone must believe in, embrace
and demonstrate devotion to the national cause. It does seem that unanimity
is required. However, what is the psychological source of this need for
unanimity?

War requires that a nation believe in the righteousness of its cause. Those
that doubt the righteousness of the cause disturb the fantasy of unanimity.
They may become targets of hatred, and worse.

War is undertaken in the name of one's nation, which one loves. How does it
happen that hatred and rage come to be so intimately bound to love?

With regards,

Richard A. Koenigsberg, Ph. D.

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<HTML>      What are these things c=
alled "nations" anyway? Why are persons so deeply attached to them, and why=20=
does everyone get so excited about them? 
 
      Writing about the First World War, Randolph B=
ourne observed that the leaders demand a "100% Americanism among 100% of the=
population." The State, he notes, is a "jealous God and will brook no rival=
s" It brings a terrific force to bear against "heretics." 
 
      A full page advertisement appeared in the Ark=
ansas Gazette, Little Rock, Arkansas, Sunday, April 14, 1918: 
 
"Any man or woman in this town, who does not take all the Liberty Bonds that=
he or she possible can buy, is in exactly the same class with those wretche=
d creatures of feeble brain and feeble spine, those cowards we call 'SLACKER=
S.' Such men and women are not fit to associate with Real Americans. Such me=
n and women are not fit to live in this community, or anywhere else in Ameri=
ca. They are not fit to live at all." 
 
What a durable phenomenon nationalism is! Scholars write about "mental repre=
sentation" and "social construction." However in the hysteria of the hyper r=
eal they lose their minds along with everyone else. 
 
"And the rockets red glare, bombs bursting in air, gave proof through the ni=
ght that our flag was still there." Bourne notes that a nation's patriotic h=
istory is solely "the history of its wars," that is, of "the State in its he=
althy and glorious functioning." 
 
War testifies to the existence of nations, reminding us that they are more t=
han mental representations or social constructions. The reasoning is as foll=
ows:  If some thing can mobilize great armies, drop bombs and kill, it=20=
must be real. Armies, bombs and killing function to PROVE THAT THE NATION IS=
REAL. Wars are undertaken in order to valorize, validate or verify the exis=
tence if nations. 
 
However, why is it necessary that everyone participate, or at least affirm a=
greement with the national cause? Why is absolute unity, complete unanimity=20=
 
insisted upon? 
 
They say that we live in a "secular" age. What an interesting fantasy. Relig=
ion is everywhere, all around us. 
 
"National life" is the contemporary religion. The eleven o' clock -news is p=
art of this religion, as is Charlie Rose and the New York Times. Nobody want=
s to be left out (it's a family affair). Slavoj Zizek doesn't want to be lef=
t out. We are so close to the object that we worship that we barely know tha=
t it is separate from the self. We so attach to the object that we worship t=
hat some (those most deeply attached to the fantasy of culture) assert that=20=
without this attachment there is no such thing as a subject. Nationalism is=20=
symbiotic fantasy of union with an omnipotent object. This object and those=20=
who represent it are imagined to be big and powerful and "up above" us. 
 
"It's not nice to fool Mother Nature!" 
 
Hitler stated that his aim was "dictatorship of the whole people, the commun=
ity." His mission was to win men to the idea of an "eternal national and soc=
ial ideal--to subordinate one's own interests to the interests of the whole=20=
society." 
 
By 1935 he believed that his dream had been fulfilled. Nevertheless, he comp=
lained: there still seemed to be a few "incurables" who had never understood=
the "happiness of belonging to this great, inspiring community." 
 
Hitler's imagined that some persons refused to embrace his dream of glorious=
national unity. He found this unbearable. He felt the need to exterminate t=
hese "party poopers." "We are fanatic in our love for our people," Hitler sa=
id.  We can go as loyally as a dog with those who share our sincerity,=20=
but we will pursue with fanatic hatred the man who believes that he can play=
tricks with this love of ours." Hitler's rage was directed against those wh=
o did not share his faith. 
 
The passionate nationalist is enraged by "non-believers," those who seem to=20=
turn against the national dream of power and glory.  He may even feel (=
see the newspaper article above) that these infidels are "not fit to live."<=
BR>
 
It is not self-evident why some feel that everyone must believe in, embrace=20=
and demonstrate devotion to the national cause. It does seem that unanimity=20=
is required. However, what is the psychological source of this need for unan=
imity? 
 
War requires that a nation believe in the righteousness of its cause. Those=20=
that doubt the righteousness of the cause disturb the fantasy of unanimity.=20=
They may become targets of hatred, and worse. 
 
War is undertaken in the name of one's nation, which one loves. How does it=20=
happen that hatred and rage come to be so intimately bound to love? 
 
With regards, 
 
 
Richard A. Koenigsberg, Ph. D.</HTML>

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