聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 The other day I had a conversation with someone regarding refugees.聽 It got a little heated as neither of us were willing to change our opinions.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The individual I was speaking with was essentially saying that refugees were cowards running away from war, unwilling to fight for themselves or their families. The person I was talking to said that they come from a military background and that if people want rights and to protect their freedoms, they must fight for them.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 I felt as though this was rather narrow sighted as there are many refugees who have left their countries in order to aid the fight in a different way. For example, Albert Einstein, a Jewish man, left Germany for the United States and helped develop the atomic bomb, which ultimately ended World War II. He escaped persecution and helped develop a way to aid the efforts of ending World War II without actually fighting on the frontlines.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Additionally, when faced with such violence, how would you react?
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Personally I like to think that I would fight if Canada were invaded tomorrow by whatever country, but I can鈥檛 say for sure. Some people would fight and some would flee. Would saving your country be at the top of your list or would saving your life to fight another day be more appealing?
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 I think in the world we live in today this is particularly at the top of peoples鈥� lists. Is it worth fighting to save their nation? I鈥檓 Canadian and to be honest I feel a connection to all Canadians when I鈥檓 abroad because there is a national identity there that you can bond over. But, ultimately would I give my life for my country? I鈥檓 not sure. Would I give it for my friends and family? I like to think I would.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 However, I鈥檓 working in unknowns because I don鈥檛 really know what I would do. I live a pretty nice life and have never been in that situation before to decide what I would do. Have I been in situations where people have scared me, absolutely, my reaction is typically to take a swing or kick at the person, there was one time I literally just took off running. So, I can鈥檛 even say how I would react, because when placed in those types of situations I react differently.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Ultimately, nationalism has changed with my generation. Why? Well, my generation when compared to my grandparents have been opened up to the world. We are too far removed from any large war to really comprehend nationalism. Do we cheer for Canada at a sporting event? Absolutely. But, Millennials don鈥檛 classify themselves as 鈥渧ery patriotic鈥� and feel that religious or cultural views tied into national identity aren鈥檛 as important. Maybe this is because Canada has become such a melting pot of cultures and the world due to quick travel options has become smaller.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 People typically identify within subcultures if we said nationality were a culture. Today people communicate via Smart Phones and use the Internet including social media where you can talk to literally anyone, anywhere in the world. You can cultivate relationships with anyone. This has created a somewhat borderless world where people see themselves as more alike than different from each other, which in turn has lessened the patriotism felt by someone to their nation. Rather than being of a certain nation, the trend is to now identify with people that have the same views as you, whether they鈥檙e our neighbour or are found halfway around the world.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 There seems to be a changing sentiment around the world regarding nationalism and patriotism in the way it once was.
