13 July 2008

I AM first and foremost A GREEN!

Green politics 
is a political ideology that aims to create
an ecologically sustainable society rooted in

NONVIOLENCE,
environmentalism (one planet, one environment),
social justice,
and
grassroots democracy.

.......

I also believe in a FREE SOCIETY!....
I am an anarchist - a libertarian socialist.
I am a Green Anarchist!....
This implies that I do not believe that GOVERNMENT is needed to save the Environment!......
.........
..............................................................................

Not really a nationalist incidentally. IF I am any kind of "nationalist" it is a VERY moderate one.

Bertrand Russell was against nationalism as many thinkers are, but he did speak in favour of cultural nationalism. He regarded political nationalism as very wrong.
Must find a quote for that.

When I say cultural nationalism I don't really mean nationalism, as nationalism is, strictly speaking, always political.
I mean that he was in favour of the existence and preservation of various cultures.

Bertrand Russell was against all (political) nationalism - whether civic nationalism (e.g. France, UK, USA) or ethnic nationalism (e.g. 19th century Germany).

----

I have realized that this blog may have a major contradiction, possibly one of several.
I am working on all of them, and I tend towards thinking that they can all be solved.
Perhaps it's biggest contradiction at the moment is it's apparent support for nationalism of various kinds and its simultaneous profession of anarchism.


I haven't changed the basic view as summarized in the intro: rationalist, humanist, atheist; green, socialist, anarchist.
This has not changed for about 6 years and I have no intention of changing it.

----

If nationalism is always political, and that is after all included in the meaning of the word, then it is necessarily in favour of states of some kind. An anarchist is against any form of state. Anarchism is also against all (political) borders. Against all national flags. Against all national anthems.

It is not really possible to be a (political) nationalist and an anarchist.

Furthermore, to be a nationalist of any kind surely means to be a cultural separatist and preservationist of some kind. Being a cultural preservationist implies that people cannot pursue cultural development and cultural change.
It denies their individuality and hence their common humanity with others.
.....

I am inclined to believe that anarchism and nationalism of any kind are incompatible.
I will continue to think about this.

I am not so keen on many mainstream anarchist groups because they almost always say that all anarchism is about class war and class struggle.
Like Marx, I am not a Marxist.
I am sympathetic to the view of class struggle in economic terms, but in social terms it tends to divide humanity, which is what anarchism opposes.
To resent the "bourgeoisie" and the "upper classes" and wish for their destruction is to deny their humanity. In some ways I see it as being as divisive as nationalism.
I see anarchism as more about the liberation of humanity than about class war.
The real class stuggle today is between the rich world and the poor world. Most people in the rich world have a decent standard of living though there are many super-rich. The super rich do not see themselves as parasites - which is what they are - they see themselves as merely doing what capitalism asks of them.

Also many mainstream anarchist groups seem to approve of violence, which is something I am not so sure about.

-----

NESSUNO STATO!
NESSUNA PATRIA!

No State!
No Country!



.....

Surely anarchism is against:

States
Nations
Nationalism
National flags
National anthems
Imperialism
.....

???
-------------------------------

Seek and you shall find. Found a very good commentary upon this subject here:
http://www.geocities.com/capitolhill/1931/secD6.html and here:

It is part of a very good summary of anarchist belief to be found here:
http://www.geocities.com/capitolhill/1931/

"Given this, we do support nationality and cultural difference, diversity and self-determination as a natural expression of our love of freedom and support for decentralisation. This should not, however, be confused with supporting nationalism."
---------
........
9th September 2008.
Basically my approach to nationalism is now much more nuanced and complex.
Expressing cultural identity is not the same thing as nationalism.
......
I may not be a nationalist but I am definitely anti-imperialist.