Nationalism is freedom and the beginning of equality and prosperity. The people make a nation strong and united. China must have its people as one, in order to become one of the leading nations in the world.
The Chinese have had a long history of hardships and sometimes were rewarded with happiness. Throughout the 19th century, the times have shown to be as difficult as ever. The moral fabric of the Chinese people has become jeopardized by the beliefs of the masses and the support of the government. The power and the control of the country do not lay with the people of China, foreign peoples and world trade and economy are the ones that have China in a tight grip. The times when there were secret organizations of anarchy and communism are recent. The Western culture has had its influence of the nationalism of China where people would want to follow the Western way of life. There are those who believe that it is possible to stay ethnically Chinese but become westernized and this deprives China of its Nationality and strength. Ethnic backgrounds are based on genetics, biology and in no way unify people in a moral sense. Nationality is the feeling of belongingness and belief in one’s Nation. Pluralism is not allowed in the struggle for the common good. It is clear that the modern times are rapidly changing and China must stay together with the world that is reshaping itself and the way things are done in it. China has always been a nation full of traditions and beliefs in the unity and strength of people. The modernization of the world has created a gap between the Chinese and the rest of the world. Nationalism is the way to show how together people of China can do so much. The social support and networks must be supported and strengthened, in order for the country to develop. There must be a high level of trust in the society and the community, which allows contributing to the collective success and creates decisions in the common national problems and issues. Nationalism will also provide the basis for the assimilation of the minorities and establish an order amongst people. The collective of people is one of the major moving forces in the fight for the country and its position in relation to other Nations. The world economy has somewhat added to the strength and goals of China. It has made the market more developed, both internally and globally.
But, at the same time, nationalism can lead astray and change an individual into becoming obsessed with their nationality. Their views become distorted and they focus on their personal goals, tricking themselves into believing that they are acting on behalf of people and for the people. The key aspect of Nationalism is that the most important thing is the people. They are the ones to dictate and determine what is best for the country but more specifically, the Nation. Unfortunately, individual development and the present world, naturally lead people away from the common goal. The interests of the nation will eventually lead to the benefits for every person individually. Sometimes, there are groups of people within a society who focus on bettering China and the conditions its people face. The government of China sees a lot of positive influence in the world and global market. Thus, the Chinese world is pulled into a place that does not have the proper conditions for a person to reach their full potential. The national economy and the social sphere must be strengthened and not changed into something that was not tested before. Right now the Chinese people are faced with many laws and regulations that govern the society and pull it in a certain direction. These are the criteria which govern the development of the cultural advances and changes. The nationality of China is under question with today’s moral changes and implications. The Cultural Revolution has taken people further from older traditions that were a part of life for many generations. This moving away from the “ancient” way of life does not mean that the nationality of the country will be lost. It is important for it not to be lost. This is where nationalism becomes extremely valuable. It is one of the highest forms of social unity and it is the primary force in the formation of a country or nation. There could be several political movements within a society that take somewhat different avenues. People will always have different ways of doing things but as long as they are fighting for the common good and the goodness of the country, it is still the same fight. The traditions must be kept intact, as they are the supportive base for any nation. People can rely and find consolation in the beliefs and traditions that have existed for hundreds of years. The history of a nation is exactly what makes it different from other nations and to forget one’s roots, is to forget the nationality and the ancestors. The key to China’s national strength was its long commitment to the forefather’s beliefs. This made the goals of every generation shared, with everyone having an input into the development of social multifaceted world. The nature of the world has set certain barriers between cultures and nations. The Chinese nation is determined by the fundamentals that cannot be found in the rest of the world. The love and friendship among the Chinese people and the helping hand that they offer one another, is truly a great quality that could be observed throughout Chinese history. The person belonging to the nation and its interests, supports the legitimacy of the government and the country. It is the people that make a nation strong, making it an important and inseparable factor in the building of an effective and flexible nation.
The most unfortunate part of nationalism is that sometimes it reaches extreme methods and innocent people become involved in very harsh realities. Genocide and other ethnical cleaning are considered to be a part of nationalist movement. In such context the word “nationalism” becomes very hard to define. It is lost in the fanatical goals of a select few who pursue the greatness of their nation through violence and destruction. There are theories that nationalism is a dangerous thing because it leads to the buildup of cultural differences and public inequalities. Nationalism means the agreement with anything that is chosen for the majority. As the definitions are usually very strict and regulated, a lot of people are forced into a system they cannot belong with. Also, the individual development is halted when all the efforts are taken to form a nation of strong and unbendable morals. Nationalism should not be political or religious. It should be based on the moral goodness of people and their interest in making the nation strong but not at the price of individuals and cultural setbacks. There are those who believe that a strong nation cannot have several groups of people of different ethnicities or backgrounds. This separates the nation and does not add to the greater good. In reality, it would be absolutely impractical to try to root out or separate different ethnic groups from the nation. These people make up the population and have the same say in the formation of the nation. They are a great resource and their commitment to the common goal is proof enough of their interests in making the nation strong. Nationalism should be guided by highest standards. The unification of many types of people but with a common territory, will be beneficial for a national movement. The people of China should not segregate people who live on its territory and want to be part of the country. It is everyone’s personal choice of what they choose to believe in and fight for. It does not matter if a person is of different background but it matters what they presently believe in. If they want to be a part of the great Chinese history and tradition, they should be allowed a place in between the people who are proud to be Chinese, who are making the nation one of the greatest and richest ones in the world.