K Sera discusses the striking similarities between Nationalism and Religious Extremism. Micah argues over the differences and Phil flip flops.
Show Notes:
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K Sera's after thoughts:
- After listening to us ramble on, my thoughts on this haven't really changed. I still think of nationalism as an exclusionary love of country. Not just pride in one's country, but a belief that one's country is better than all others. Which is that same gross feeling I get from religious fanatics. They don't just love their god, their god is the best, most powerful, most amazing god and they are better and more right than anyone who believes differently. It's more than pride. It's exceptionalism.
- I think it's harder for me to understand that as any kind of positive feeling. It is great to love something, and share the thing you love with others who are receptive. It's disrespectful verging on awful to intimate that others are shameful, inept or somehow less than because they don't share or participate in your beliefs... Or non beliefs.
- Anyway… I am tired of people.
Phil's afterthoughts:
-- In the Fall of 2022, we have seen political extremism, religious extremism, and extreme nationalism. Sometimes all combined.
- I am hoping that for the most part, the vast majority of the people (99%) are normal, moderate, and reasonable folk that just want a better future for their family and that it is the small (and very vocal) group of fanatics (or extremists in any topic) that are yelling the loudest.
- I say this because while some people are just going to be horrible human beings, I am really hoping that they do not represent who we truly are. That deep inside us, most people are just doing the best with what we have, and that we will help those in need (but we are afraid to because we do not want to be taken advantage of). That we are somehow tricked into believing that most of everyone are the loud and cruel extremists (but in reality many of us are just normal people, but now are concerned about "who is who").
- We often get our news and information outside of first principles. This is designed (we are overworked, overtired, and overdone) to ensure we do not challenge the status quo. The funny thing is, if we only had the energy to realize that most of us are also overworked, overtired, and overdone, we would realize how manipulated we all are.
- Too Long; Didn't Read Version: We are too tired to realize we are all too tired. Only the extremists have been able to tap into rage and fear to gain energy. Yes, every kind of extremists are very similar in this regard (Nationalists fear their way of life is threatened, Religious Extremists fear that they will be punished in the afterlife). News Flash: we are all misled, not because we are stupid, but because we have no energy to fight back. Who are we fighting? Well isn't it obvious?