Discussion - Imported Nationalism

Me Thinks provides this rant from the pub on the problem with nationalism these days. Is an egoist party supposed to be nationalist? That seems too beholden to group identity. But pragmatism is also a characteristic of Me First! The nation-state is still the only kind of sovereign polity in the world, so we can roll with that. Besides, our flirtation with internationalism in negotiation with the Protista fell apart over how much chilli to put in our one-and-only conference dinner.

Anything can be taken too far even for narky pedants like us. The nationalism that once freed populations from absolutist monarchs now tends to fetter them to imaginary monocultures. We hanker for a more relaxed national spirit that once characterized Australia. A laconic and understated homegrown nationalism has morphed this century into something altogether more ra-ra-ra and razzamatazz. A nationalist now wears a flag around their shoulders while yelling at passers-by. A nationalist fifty years ago would have called them drongos.

The Australian way involved shuffling your feet as some patriotic oath was uttered and then mumbling along to the national anthem half-heartedly. Making a big thing of it all was the province of politicians and wankers. We just wanted to have a barbecue with family and friends. But then we forgot that and started importing our nationalism from the United States. This foreign influence on our culture must be curbed! But how?

Fucked if we know. But whinging is very Aussie and we are starting with that.

Update

On further consideration we think a partial solution could come from borrowing and improving on a policy often demanded by ranting nationalists. More stringent citizenship tests! But our innovation will be to extend that qualification to all Australians. If you are born in Australia then you automatically have permanent residence but to become a citizen you must pass a citizenship test on coming-of-age (and you can have another shot every twelve months). Fewer drongos on the electoral roll could be just what this nation needs.