Retirement – Nationalism – symbol of hope, not hate

In the midst of all the worldwide furore over immigration, it helps to have the long memory that older people enjoy.

Back in the 1950’s we welcomed Dutch settlers along with boatloads of Brits, without the derogatory labels that Australia attached to Ten Pound Poms. And we still felt proud of the wartime pictures of Polish refugee kids arriving in Pahiatua. Remember Precious Mckenzie who captured the nation’s heart with his gold medal winning weight lift at the Commonwealth Games in 1978. A Coloured South African immigrant turned Kiwi icon, who had already won three other golds representing England. The mixed pedigree bothered no one.

Nationalism means pride in your country and wanting to protect and honour it. We used to do that by welcoming migrants, knowing that we are all migrants if you go back far enough. To measure human value by your arrival date is both silly and ignorant. Is someone who arrived here as a child worth more than someone who settled here yesterday? Is arrival by 767 a year ago to be less valued than coming by sailing ship in the 1860’s or waka a millennium ago?

With election looming, nationalism will be bandied about as a vote catcher by several parties, under guises ranging from respectable patriotism to white supremacy. That’s happening worldwide with the Farages, Hansons, Le Pens and Trumps setting the pace.

But it took the Fifa World Cup to expose the contradictions of the nationalist slogans. Forty of the 48 national teams in the tournament included at least one, and mostly many players who were born outside the nation they played for. The Curacao team fielded only one native born player.

The cross of St George that’s become a right winger’s symbol was painted on the faces of left wing England supporters. And loyal Kiwi citizens were seen cheering teams in the semi finals that beat the All Whites.

As the tournament progressed, national loyalties became increasingly confused. The entire nation of Bangladesh was caught up in cheering for Argentina.

The Fifa experience showed nationalism up as the complex creature it is. A boost to a country’s sagging fortunes (think Iran), a recruiting tool for young players (think NZ), a marketing tool par excellence.

Nationalism can also become a moveable feast. Trump’s America seems more interested in supporting white South Africans than black Americans. It’s important for helping us find somewhere to belong and common cause with fellow citizens, but dangerous when it becomes exclusive, excluding. And when used cynically as a political or a religious weapon, it’s lethal. To use nationalism as a recruiting tool for votes or even worse church growth (Destiny Church style) will reap a harvest of shame and sorrow.

Next time you hear someone say, Go back to where you belong, ask them where their forebears came from, no matter how many times removed.