Analysis Of Michael Billig 's Theory On Banal Nationalism Essay

Nationalism is patriotic feeling, principles, efforts or having pride in your country. nationalism was another big part in world war I. ("DBQ: What Were the Underlying ...", 2010, p. Doc 1) If it was not for the pride in one’s countries, there would be total chaotic war. There was total war because of imperialism also. Because of this soldiers were ready to run towards the front lines and risk his life for his country.

Nationalism, a political or social philosophy in which the prosperity of a nation-state as an existence is considered supreme or more important than anything else. The primary duty and loyalty should be toward the nation-state. The love for one's country often reflected dominance and power as people were able to unite toward common good. Furthermore, republic governments were reestablished a result of Nationalism.

Nationalism can be traced to the nineteenth century, European peoples came to identify strongly with communities they called nations. Members of a nation considered themselves a distinctive people that spoke a common language, observed common customs, inherited common cultural conditions, held common values, and shared common

As Albert Einstein stated “Nationalism is an infantile disease. It is the measles of mankind.” Nationalism first became a problem in America around the 19th Century when the Louisiana Purchase began in 1803. Shortly after the Louisiana Purchase there was the Embargo Act in 1807. The most recent act of nationalism was the weekend of the 12th of August in Charlottesville, Virginia. Nationalism has affected America in more than one way. For example, nationalism can bring apart people rather than bring them closer together. Nationalism is when a group of people who strongly believe in an idea come together and argue or fight against another group of people who think differently.

All of these things being said, nationalism is the result of these changes and feel-good moments. Togetherness separates America from the rest of the world during the Era of Good Feelings to help portray America as a new thriving nation moving up. America wasn’t the only nation “thriving”. The Industrial Revolution in Europe (1750s--1840s) make the booming nations in Europe. Yet, America thrives at the expense of being a very young nation that’s gaining steam and doing it together. The steamboat linked with the canal system helped to bring about hope and optimism and elevate America into the world spotlight and helped a gradual transition from being a weak and non-self-reliant nation.

This caused nationalism, or the feeling of pride or loyalty to a nation. Many events brought the United States together with nationalism and separated it by sectionalism. One event that created nationalism was the Battle of New Orleans. This was the last battle of the War of 1812, even though it occurred after the Treaty of Ghent was signed.

"I have nothing with which to start a family. I am all alone in this life and land." The common thoughts of Hmong refugees as they began to settle in refugee camps and America are that of deep alienation and uncertainty. When the Hmong first entered the U.S., they were strategically dispersed across the country to promote faster assimilation. However, the stark contrast between the Hmong and America's cultures has made this move backfire. The integration of the Hmong has been especially difficult when compared with other immigrants, leading some Americans to believe that it is the fault of the Hmong. In reality, the problem was that their culture was unlike any of the other immigrants that the America has been exposed to. In order to examine any transition that the Hmong have undergone in America, we first must define, what it means to be Hmong and what it means to be American. Several texts have attempted to answer these questions and I will use them to correct the prevailing misconceptions of the Hmong. It is common belief that Hmong's culture is one of primitivity, dependency, and close-mindedness; I will show that these beliefs are not only false but also propagated by cultural oppression and ineffective resettlement policies.

During the Vietnam War, the Hmong participated and helped assist the United States government. However, when the United States withdrew from the war, the North Vietnamese and Laos Communist government declared genocide on the Hmong (Tatman, 2004; Thao, 2003). Thus, the Hmong were left to defend themselves and flee to refugee camps in Thailand (McCall, 1999). This resulted in the Hmong migrating to the United States during the late 1970s through 2007 as refugees. They predominately reside in California, Minnesota, and Wisconsin (Collier, Munger, & Moua, 2012; Lee & Green, 2008).

Over a period of time, the Hmong people have immigrated from country to country due to oppression from governments and due to their involvement in wars. For this reason, Hmong people are now found living scattered across the globe (Tatman 2004). With no country to call home, they fled to the hillsides and mountain tops of nearby neighboring countries. As a result, the Hmong people had to reestablish their communities and families wherever the settled. Although the Hmong’s lacked a formal government and a central leader, Hmong families were often lead by a dominant male figure within the family who was responsible for the decision making and wellbeing of the group (Long 2008). The social structure found within Hmong communities and Hmong

Nationalism is way of thinking both political and socially to create a community united by: history, ethnicity, religions, common culture, and language. Numerous effects occurred while establishing a Nationalist community, some effects were a long term impact on Nationalism, and other was short term impacts on Nationalism.

Nationalism is a sense of strong pride and loyalty of ones nation over other nations. This is different from past

Nationalism is how one feels toward their nation. Therefore nationalism determines how strong a nation is, by the unity of the people. America was very young as a nation in the early to mid 1800s and was not meeting the standards of the people. Changes needed to be made. Nationalism was changed in America with many great reform movements taking place which warped America to what it is today. Education reform, Industrial revolution, and transportation alongside technological advancements played a large roll in nationalism.

As the main source of national identity, nationalism “makes [people] feel connected not only to one another but also to the homeland itself” (Jusdanis 28). In the case of the American founding, when the delegates from respective states met to construct a more perfect union, they did not identify themselves as Virginians or New Yorkers. Instead, they defined themselves as “we the people of the United States” as it appears in the Preamble to the US constitution. The shared interest in liberty and freedom as well as the attachment to the land of their fathers made it possible for the vast population of the thirteen states to think of itself as a unified body despite their internal ethnic and cultural divide. By identifying themselves as a member of certain group, people will form a society with certain shared value, which ultimately can become the political units for a democratic government. Nationalism is essential for creating a cohesive political community.

Nationalism differs across all countries and even within those countries to high a degree. Countries such as China have ceremonies everyday to worship their leader and force unity among the people. People in Iraq are praying together up to five times a day to force amalgamation. However in the United States, one way we express nationalism, and perhaps the most notable way when we are growing up, is through reciting and listening to the pledge of Allegiance. Listening to the Pledge in the classroom encourages unity and pride among teachers and peers, in contrast to forced nationalism because of the choices Americans have with the Pledge.

The Hmong community resettled both in America and France proved their efforts to maintain a collective memory about their homeland and ethnic consciousness while facing the difficulties of being integrated in a new culture. As a cultural minority, the Hmong of Saint Paul, Minneapolis, Minnesota, and the Hmong community of Aubigny-sur-Nère, France are two successful examples of said integration. These two large Hmong community, while immersed in a new environment, succeed to maintain their own culture, inherent to their identities,