Intermission

Weird coincidence in readings today:

In today's Age newspaper was an extract from a speech by our Prime Minister all about the value of nationalism, and his hopes for the future of the country (which included almost no serious reference to climate change, but mainly revolved around security, interest rates and 'prosperity'). That made me decidedly queasy about the future if that's all our priorities are...

And then flicked over the Heath's blog to see this wisely chosen quote:

Nationalism is our form of incest, is our idolatry, is our insanity."Patriotism" is its cult. It should hardly be necessary to say, that by "patriotism" I mean that attitude which puts the own nation above humanity, above the principles of truth and justice; not the loving interest in one's own nation, which is the concern with the nation's spiritual as much as with its material welfare-never with its power over other nations.

Just as love for one individual which excludes the love for others is not love, love for one's country which is not part of one's love for humanity is not love, but idolatrous worship.:~

Erich Fromm (1900-1980), U.S. psychologist.

Thanks Heath!