Nationalism may mean corruption

I love my country too much to be a nationalist.
- Albert Camus, writer, philosopher, Nobel laureate (1913-1960)

The main definition of a nationalist is "one who loves and defends his or her country." However, the word has adopted a connotative meaning with a different slant to it: "my country, right or wrong."

The latter meaning derives from the word patriot, which has a similar main meaning to nationalist, but puts the winning of various kinds of contests, competitions and conflicts above doing what is right.

There is no euphamism or escape from "wrong." Wrong is wrong, no matter in what glossy terms it may be couched. Two wrongs never make a right, ever.

We cannot raise our children to do what is right, then tell them it's all right to do wrong under certain circumstances. That, in itself, is wrong. It is hypocrisy and it forms the basis on which teen rebellion in western society grows.

If we teach kids what is right, then later they find us doing wrong, the foundation of who they are is ripped apart. Their parents, the people who taught them how to be who they are, lied.

People who lie to achieve certain goals are corrupt. Governments who lie to achieve their goals are also corrupt. Corruption is a slippery slope. Down.

Teach your children what is right. Practise what is right yourself. Insist that others do what is right with your children.

We don't need a more corrupt world.

We can each begin to make it better by doing what is right, teaching our children and grandchildren what is right and not tearing apart what our children thought of us when they were young.

Your children know what is wrong. You taught them. Now back it up in your own life so they see you as a good role model not as a failed and corrupt teacher.

Bill Allin
'Turning It Around: Causes and Cures for Today's Epidemic Social Problems,' striving to encourage everyone to teach right, teach good, teach peace--the basic TIA philosophy of T3.
Learn more at http://billallin.com/cgi/index.pl