To expand on my previous point:
"לאומיות של אומות העולם היא ירושה של הברבריות הקדומה, של שנאת הבריות ושל האגוטיסמוס [אנוכיות] היחידי המורחב, והיא מוכרחת להתבטל מן העולם. לא כן לאומיות ישראל, שהיא עצמה הלאומיות המוסרית הטהורה, שאינה צריכה לשום דבר זר שימתיקה, כי היא עצמה שורש כל הטוב וכל המוסר שבעולם."
"The nationalism of the nations of the world is a legacy of ancient barbarism, of hatred toward others, and of expanded egoism [selfishness]; it is destined to vanish from the world. Not so the nationalism of Israel, which is in itself pure moral nationalism. It requires nothing foreign to sweeten it, for it is the very root of all good and morality in the world."
1. The Perversion of Nationalism
History shows us how quickly national pride can transform into a destructive force. The National Socialist German Workers' Party (Nazi Party) is the ultimate warning of what happens when nationalism is stripped of universal morality. In that context, "nationalism" became a tool for the "expanded egoism" mentioned in the quote—elevating one group by dehumanizing and destroying all others.
2. The "Oxygen Mask" Analogy
In modern discourse, slogans like "America First" are often defended through a pragmatic lens: the "Oxygen Mask" principle. Just as flight attendants instruct you to secure your own mask before assisting others, a nation must be stable and self-sufficient to be of any use to the world.
3. The Moral Threshold
However, there is a thin line between self-preservation and self-exaltation.
Pragmatic Nationalism: Focusing on one's own country to build a foundation for global stability.
Destructive Nationalism: Viewing one's nation as the only entity with value, leading to the ugly outcomes of isolationism or aggression.
While worldly nationalism is often built on the "hatred of others," the ideal version of Jewish nationalism is meant to be a vehicle for universal morality. It isn't about being "better" in a competitive sense, but about being a "root of good" that sustains the world rather than depleting it. Sadly - a *certain person* who hold a very important public office views things through the lens of winning vs. losing, us vs. you.
Rubio presented a more balanced and healthier version which hopefully will prevail.
