tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6832901.post1113265977352827476..comments2024-03-25T19:48:24.624+11:00Comments on Oz Conservative: Swedish PM doesn't like the nationUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6832901.post-34018459226644857012014-05-13T06:55:12.331+10:002014-05-13T06:55:12.331+10:00Anon,
Mostly no. It's true that here in Melbo...Anon,<br /><br />Mostly no. It's true that here in Melbourne we were once a long way from the rest of the world, with long horizons, and that this gave a particular flavour to our sense of national existence.<br /><br />But Australia was very much involved in the European conflicts of the twentieth century; they had a deep impact on our country. WWI in particular has seared itself into the Australian consciousness even amongst the youngest generation.<br /><br />Anon, when I speak of nationalism I am not referring to an ideology but to a love of country; and to an aspect of identity and belonging. As such it can be used positively in times of conflict (defence of homeland/fight against evil) or negatively (to encourage people to fight for false purposes). But it is not in itself an ideology.<br /><br />The three ideologies which have plagued Europe (and the West) over the past century have been Marxism; Nazism and Liberalism. Two were defeated; one remained to do damage. <br /><br />If Mr Reinfeldt were concerned about the ideological conflicts in Europe he would act against that one remaining ideology, liberalism. Instead he seeks to deepen its damaging effects on his own homeland. Mark Richardsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15961688379656119701noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6832901.post-8022177457618394452014-05-12T23:37:52.430+10:002014-05-12T23:37:52.430+10:00As an Australian you cannot understand the histori...As an Australian you cannot understand the historical place nationalism holds in European society. It's easy for you, in Australia, which is comfortably isolated from the rest of the world and which has no comparable history of ideological conflict to complain about the decline of nationalism. The meaning of nationalism is simply an entirely different matter for a European as compared to an Australian which cannot be compared on an abstract philosophical level, as your highly flawed and quaint comparison with Australian national patriotism in WW2 demonstrates. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6832901.post-72025519816219025072014-05-10T20:20:49.485+10:002014-05-10T20:20:49.485+10:00A thought provoking post, Mark. But quite honestly...A thought provoking post, Mark. But quite honestly, for most of the neo-liberals who call themselves conservatives (including most of Australia's coalition pollies) Mr Reinfeldt's position is vanilla conformity.<br />Pesky national identities and cultural differences get in the way of international business. Like tariffs, unions and regulation, they must be done away with. One world market uber alles.<br /><br />.graphitenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6832901.post-64118173908932740622014-04-29T02:12:30.735+10:002014-04-29T02:12:30.735+10:00The concept of 'nationalism' seems to be s...The concept of 'nationalism' seems to be seen as a really bad thing in the Germanic and Nordic countries, to a much greater extent than in the English-speaking world.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6832901.post-80842809772122575262014-04-28T22:22:26.928+10:002014-04-28T22:22:26.928+10:00Funny Swedes want to build "individualism&quo...Funny Swedes want to build "individualism" through state-imposed extreme conformity:<br /><br />http://islamversuseurope.blogspot.com/2013/12/swedish-newspaper-collaborates-with.htmlfnnnoreply@blogger.com