Nationalism is kind of like self esteem or confidence. If you have confidence that is good because you can do things you never thought you could do, but if you have too much of it you might start to think that you are too good for some people. You might not even want to be friends with your best friend anymore. People also might not even want to be friends with you or even like you because they might think you are arrogant or self-centered.
Countries today need to believe in themselves so that they can be strong and pull together. But if it is taken too far, it could lead up to a war.
In World War II, German nationalism resulted in a plan to wipe out all the Jews because Germany thought they were the best. Hitler made the Germans think that they were superior to all others, which resulted in genocide.
Genocide can still occur today if we don't learn from the past or history and work for peace.
Now in Rwanda, 350 little boys as young as eight are being convicted of genocide. Genocide is "deliberately inflicting on a group conditions calculated in to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part." Boys that are accused of genocide are put into juvenile facility and will remain there indefinitely.
Sources: http://www.worldrevolution.org/Guide.asp?CategoryName=Ethnic+Conflict
World War II-by Tom McGowen
World War II-By Ken Hills
World War II Workshop-by Mr. Darrel Galera on October 21,2000 at Kapaa Middle School.
|