Around
the World, Populism is Popping
Published in Marietta (GA) Daily Journal, 6/1/19
Populist,
patriot, and nationalist have become put-down words. Making the illogical and unfair error of
judging an idea by its misrepresentation, critics of populism, patriotism, and
nationalism display their bigotry, not to mention their misunderstanding of
words.
Judging
Christians by the KKK that attempts to shroud its evil with the Christian cross
is both wrong and ignorant. Judging
churches by the actions of Westboro Baptist Church is just as wrong. Yet such misrepresentation has gone on for
decades. Most Southerners are not
bigots, most Jews are not rich, most millennials are not lazy, and most
citizens north of the Mason-Dixon Line are not unfriendly.
But
reading the New Your Times or a handful of other nationally known newspapers,
one would think that any American who won’t disavow the labels populist,
patriot, and nationalist is illiterate and bigoted. Why this myopic view of fellow citizens? Why the disdain for simple love for one’s
country? We used to call this disdain
prejudice, a word that is falling away, but it means pre-judging or judging
others as you lump them with a group and then cast aspersions on the entire
group.
In
the Marietta Daily Journal several days ago columnist Pat Buchanan wrote, “The
nation is the largest entity to which one can give loyalty and love.” Buchanan extols France’s great general
Charles De Gaulle who believed in and pressed for “nation-states from the
Atlantic to the Urals.” And what does Buchanan
get for his love of his nation and the belief that American civilization is in
great danger of early death? He is
tagged as a “nationalist,” one who despises all other nations and views them
with condescension.
But
alas, it’s not just America’s deplorables who subscribe to love of one’s nation
as per President Trump’s America First theme.
European nations are also fed up with globalization, multiculturalism,
and all other such efforts to pull us into what amounts to world union. Enough of “We are the world, we are the
people.” We are nations.
Across
Europe and in India Trump-like sentiments are spreading. 28 countries recently held elections for
representatives to the European Union.
751 seats in the EU parliament in Brussels were up for grabs. At least 3 European nations come to mind
where the winds that swept Trump into office are touching down in Europe as
well. As it turns out,
populist/nationalist coalitions are reshaping both American and European
politics. In India the pro-America Nationalist
Party just won an overwhelming victory.
In
England the Pro-Brexit Party which favors Britain’s departure from the EU and a
return to national sovereignty surged to victory. The established parties, Conservatives and
Labour, faltered. In France the National
Front party led by Marine Le Pen won the national election for EU representatives,
thereby moving Le Pen’s party into first place over current president Emmanuel
Macron. Le Pen claimed Macron has
“displayed extreme arrogance and spite for common people and the French people
in general.” She asserted that French
politics can no longer best be described by the terms “left” and “right,” but
by nationalist and globalist. How
applicable to American politics is that?
Le
Pen stated, “Globalism breeds a post-national spirit which carries the notion
that borders must disappear.” In Italy
the League Party of Matteo Salvini also won big. Like Le Pen, Salvini has preached national
sovereignty and independence from the EU.
These
victories don’t mean that the EU will soon be upended. They do, however, spell trouble. Given that Hungary and Poland also have
nationalist parties that are on the rise and that Germany’s leader, Merkel, was
soundly defeated in the EU vote, change is definitely happening.
What
is all of this but the desire for local rule?
How was Donald Trump able to smash both political parties, embarrass the
experts, and tame a previously impenetrable news media? Why, even in Scotland, are coalitions forming
to bring about a total break from Britain?
Why, if “union” is so good, did the Soviet Union last barely 70 years?
Europe’s
Old Guard is faltering. So is the
political party system in America.
Trump’s rallies are nothing more or less than a great revolt of the
middle class. His supporters are based
in work and driven by faith. They
apparently like a billionaire who, though he cusses, doesn’t drink or smoke,
and definitely connects with them.
Populism
means “of the people.” As it turns out,
people around the world are tired of having pseudo-“diversity” crammed down
their throats. The Brits want to be
Brits, the French want to be French, and India wants to be Indian. What’s wrong with that?
Roger Hines
5/28/19
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