Nationalism, Humanity, Tsunamis, and the United States of America
So one of the social-news websites I frequent has been plagued with posts of ignorant Facebook status updates that people have been posting since the tsunami that hit Japan a couple of days ago.
Calling such posts “ignorant” is an understatement. Posts, like the one posted above, are outright xenophobic and how a complete disregard for humanity. Many (seemingly American due to their justifications) are saying that the tsunami is payback for the bombing of Pearl Harbour; ignoring the fact that the events of Pearl Harbour took place 70 years ago (an entire generation) the United States dropped two nuclear bombs on Japan killing over 150,000 people.
I embolden the word “people” because those posting comments like the one pictured above seem to not comprehend this. I watched a movie (not by choice) called ‘Babies’ a few days ago. While the movie would have been just as effective as a 20 minute Youtube-feature, it showcased something more effectively than I’d seen before in a film. While there are cultural differences throughout the world, the movie showed that all children start out the same and that it’s afterwards that they begin conforming to cultural norms. Whether this be mannerisms or religion, these are picked up as a person grows, but initially, ignoring class and location, the film highlights that everyone is the same.
Alas, despite the fact that we’re all people, some seem to not mind if thousands of humans on a small island in the Pacific are wiped out, or if children die in a bombing half way around the world, or if men, women and children are being slaughtered by their government. While I am not saying that the world should necessarily unite in mourning after every major disaster, no person should actively be wishing horrific catastrophes to harm their fellow species.
Much of this lack of empathy seems to come from blind-Nationalistic tendencies. The belief that because you live in the boundaries of a certain political institution’s jurisdiction that you’re better than those who live under another’s is completely ridiculous. The belief that one specific country is a “God-blessed nation”, and that all others are in-effect inferior is not only naive but delusional. This nationalistic propaganda only serves those in power to unite those they rule over, and create further divisions between those who live in one political jurisdiction from another.
It’s quite sad how there exists in the world individuals who feel that their fellow man is of a lesser worth than himself due to another’s colour, culture, or ethnicity. For we are one people, not necessarily under a single god or creed, but united under the banner of common humanity.
Maybe a day is yet to come when all of Earth’s people will realize this.
