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Negative Effects Of Jingoism

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MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! This was a common phrase uttered by many Donald Trump supporters during the 2016 Presidential Election. In a campaign fueled by hate, “isms” that divide our country such as racism and sexism have come to the forefront in the last political cycle; however, none were more prevalent than jingoism. Defined as “extreme patriotism, especially in the form of warlike foreign policy”, jingoism often carries a negative connotation and has been exemplified by the 2016 election (Merriam Webster Dictionary). While nationalism can be a positive concept, there is a fine line between having pride in a patriotic sense and promoting violence for the purpose of creating a negative uprising. Negative nationalism, often a result of a …show more content…

Racism and sexism are the most common types of prejudice in America today, but the rise of American Jingoism in the last 50 years has been unprecedented. Jingoism is an extreme form of nationalism often in the form of aggressive or warlike foreign policy. Originating in 1893, American jingoism has its roots in the annexation Hawaii when a group of foreigners, mostly Americans, overthrew the constitutional monarchy, and declared it a republic (Revolvy.com). Then President Benjamin Harrison was often accused of supporting this jingoistic behavior. More recently, the post 9/11 fallout has forever changed the way Americans see immigration. Since that day, increased border security and new restrictions on immigrants dominate the immigration reform debate and account for billions of dollars worth of spending in federal tax dollars (migrationpolicy.org). While the rise of American jingoism is nothing to scoff at, we can attribute the problem to no one but ourselves as stated by Ken Follet, author of Winter of the World, when he asks “why is it that those who want to destroy everything good about their country are the quickest to waive the National flag” (Kenfollet.com). WHY DOES JINGOISM …show more content…

This ban, coined as the “Muslim ban”, precludes anyone without proper identification and clearance from entering the country. Claiming that the ban was necessary, Trump incited examples of recent terror attacks to justify his executive order; however, this kind of aggressive foreign policy is jingoistic in nature and could possibly have unforgiving outcomes than adopting a relaxed immigration policy. English novelist Aldous Huxley claimed, “most ignorance is vincible ignorance. We don't know because we don't want to know” (Brave New World).
While nationalism can carry a negative connotation, there is also positive nationalism. A healthy dose of positive nationalism can ease concerns by softening the burdens of economic and social change. Citizens who gain from change are more willing to support employment programs, and educational systems that help ease the burden on those who otherwise would fall far behind. And the generosity of the winners in turn allows the nation as a whole to better accept the consequences of free trade, open capital markets, and more liberal

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