Nationalism or Patriotism

I do not believe that these are synonymous terms or beliefs nor should they be viewed as such.  Nationalism or ethnocentrism (the inherent belief in the superiority of one’s own ethnic group or culture) implies a norm that is a contradiction of any concept of egalitarian democracy and especially how democratic thought and the rule of law evolved in the United States.  The comments of President Macron should be viewed in the causes and aftermath of World War I.  I think there are very few individuals with an elemental understanding of the “Great War” who would deny that nationalism, militarism, conflicting systems of alliances as well as imperialism were the underlying causes of World War I.  When you consider the secret agreements between various allied powers but not all dividing the territory of the Central Powers especially in the  Middle East and Africa which still haunts us today, it shows the destructive nature of nationalism.  I am very disappointed with our President in not honoring the Americans who died and served in a pivotal struggle that failed to bring a lasting peace to the world.   This failure to bring about a peace based on democratic norms led to the outbreak of a more destructive war in another 20 years.  I can’t help but support the words of Emmanuel Macron and regret the political and patriotic absence of our President.