{Nationalism}[18th August 1990]

[Redbook7:217-221][19900818:0955c]{Nationalism}[18th August 1990]

19900818.0955

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‘In essence, Ba’athism is little more than assertion and exhortation, the endless repetition of what are supposed to be self-evident truths. In common with all nationalisms,* it cannot engage in dialogue or compete for attention, since to admit that any other point of view can be considered or expressed only dilutes the indisputable nature of its own “eternal message” (risula khalida)’.**

How delighted I am to see this common feature of nationalisms set down so clearly, when no[-]one had seemed to notice. I have come across this so many times in relation to our local variety, Welsh nationalism, where any attempt to question the basic assumptions, or even [sic] the primary doctrines drawn from them, is met with outright hostility, blank incomprehension, or (in politer circumstances) evasion of the issue. Never, never, will a nationalist argue the point of nationalism itself.***

*(my emphasis)

**T[imes] L[iterary] S[upplement] 900817-23:865, ‘Accounting for a distorted vision’, Peter Sluglett, reviewing ‘Republic of Fear: Saddam’s Iraq’ by Samir al-Khalil.

***[Presumably ‘argue’ here implies rational argument: as opposed to (for example) abuse, or axioms presented as argument]

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