Mike Wilde

..Patriotism is usually the refuge of the scoundrel.
He is the man who talks the loudest…

Mark Twain  - Education and Citizenship speech, 14/5/1908
 

Patriotism is important when it comes to Nation building 
but there is a point where tolerance becomes more important 
in the interests of a world we can all live in.

40 years ago the situation in Northern Ireland seemed hopeless.
Irreconcilable differences threatened to tear the Nation apart.

But somehow we have moved on.

So in a broader sense, where are we today with Israel/Palestine ?
So many people(of jewish heritage) from so many diverse and different
cultures flocked to the fledgling Nation from 1948 on that it is a small
miracle that they can get on with each other, let alone with their neighbours.

And any cursory reading of History will reveal how dismissively
we in the ..West.. have treated the Arab Nations in the past.

And now it is blowing up in our faces, literally.
Not that I am a big fan of Islam..s particular brand
of fundamentalism (or any form of fundamentalism for that matter)
and the Arab world could hardly be labelled as ..Heroes for Human Rights…

Israel/Palestine is a microcosm of the planet.
I would venture that if we are not able to resolve this conflict ..
sooner or later we all go down.

Having said that, I believe that the inverse is also true.
If we can reach a solution there ..
then there is hope for the rest of the planet.

As far as US dominance goes .. I don..t know who are the more naive.
Those elements in America seeking to export a democracy in their own likeness .. 
or the rest of the ..West, ..so quick to criticise US policies and see them as an oppressor.

Mistakes have been made … and will be continue to be made … by all sovereign Nations.

Perhaps if we cast our attention to Russia we would see that their 
efforts to control as many Energy resources as possible are taking
them down an all too familiar Authoritarian route.

Or what about China ?? 
Yes they are marching towards Democracy
but take a close look at Tibet.
Not a lot of tolerance happening there.

It..s not about us and them anymore ..or even you and me.
It..s about WE
One planet, many peoples.

mw