Wednesday, February 21, 2007

Utsukushii kuni e

On a dialogue between nationalism and liberalism going on elsewhere:

Nationalism is a morbidly exaggerated patriotic feeling. It is dangerous not because it exploits love for one's own, but because it risks breaking into hatred for the other – as it almost always does. But nationalism can be rescued from this fate; there must be a shift from ethnic nationalism to civic nationalism. Pride must come not from being Russian, Jewish or Tatar, but of being citizens of a beautiful country, one that is free, successful, morally solvent and unique.

This from Alexander Arkhangelsky's opinion article "Looking for Moderation", published by RIA Novostni.

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