What Paul thinks!

Reflection on Nationalism

I spent the day at Darling Harbour joining in the Australia Day celebrations. It was a great day, and we had a great time, but I find myself feeling awkward about Nationalism. Nationalism is a great way to unify people but the problem is that mostly it requires someone to be 'the Other'. At the moment, in Australia, 'the Other' seems to be the refugees from Iran and Afghanistan who are trying to get in to Australia. I am horrified at how uncharitable people are about their situation. How easily they have demonised these people who are only trying to get themselves and their families out of a horrible situation and to make a better life for themselves. I hear people who are probably normally pleasant people talking as though these weren't even humans. I think that we are going to see more and more instances of the poor neighbour banging on the door trying to get in, and the more common it becomes, the more we (Western Society) will try to strengthen the walls to keep them out. Eventually, there will be a more even distribution of wealth, but not without a lot of pain.