American anti-Americanism and the European Tea Party: a response to LatumWay

LatumWay's video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSLdbxt2g24

Ernest Renan's lecture from 1882, What is a Nation?
English: http://www.ellopos.net/politics/eu_renan.html
French: http://fr.wikisource.org/wiki/Qu%E2%80%99est-ce_qu%E2%80%99une_nation_%3F

The quote on ethnosymbolism is Smith, AD (1998). Nationalism and Modernism. London: Routledge. 224 cited in Özkırımlı, U (2000). Theories of Nationalism. Basingstoke: Palgrave. 168.

Umut Özkırımlı's book is the best primer on nationalism available, IMHO and was released in a second edition last year - it is available on Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/Theories-Nationalism-Introduction-Umut-Ozkirimli/dp/023...

I was very lucky to have Anthony D Smith, a giant in the field of nationalism studies, as a lecturer at the LSE. Although he has now retired, he is emeritus professor and is the latest of a distinguished line that includes Ernest Gellner, Kenneth Minogue and Elie Kedourie.

As you'll see, I've shot this video in a different style to usual. I'd love to know what people make of it.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• american
• anti-americanism
• tea
• party
• europe
• nationalism
• ethnicity
• alienation
• latumway
• ethnosymbolism
• anthony
• david
• smith
• ernest
• renan

[aperson22222]

I'm not sure I understand exactly what role you're assigning the Constitution to the root of American identity. But don't you English look to the Magna Carta as one of the great early achievements of the English nation, and thus hold it near the root of national identiy?

Otherwise, one thing that infuriates me about this nation is the insistence on linguistic conformity. The US has no language, never has, never will. The idea that speaking Spanish is somehow seditious or treasonous--Grr!

[DLandonCole]

@aperson22222 No; Magna Carta doesn't have the position in the public imagination that the US Constitution does.

[TheRedHippie74]

the first constitution after the carnation Revolution in Portugal.

[DLandonCole]

@TheRedHippie74 But it's been changed twice since then, hasn't it?

[jeevesbond]

Landon, in your Q&A you said you didn't know much about Naom Chomsky. If that is the case you might want to search Youtube for 'chomsky tea party' and have a look at the first result.

Unfortunately the interviewer rambles a bit, but Chomsky's reply is worth waiting for IMO. :)

[DLandonCole]

@jeevesbond I will certainly have a look!

[jstack42]

Is it possible the United States Constitution, as an informal sense of ethnosymbolism, could be representative of the vast preponderance of the founding peoples of the nation (Europeans)? Granted, our history, as a civilization, is not as deep as any other to speak of, however, but it is indeed unique to history. Euro migrants are just a mere proportion, albeit a majority. But, because of the historical circumstances, I argue the constitution may, in fact, serve as a de facto cultural norm.

[aperson22222]

@tecumseh1175 I also resented European high-handedness toward us in the 00s, but while I do see where the connection comes in the Tea Party is not an appropriate response. Of course there are racists within Tea Party constituencies, it would be pretty impossible for such a large group to exclude such undesirable elements altogether. How prominent they are--Well, that tends to ebb and flow, but they do make themselves felt.

[aperson22222]

@tecumseh1175 You think I'm European? I'm not. Born and raised in Colonia, NJ.

[tecumseh1175]

The media in the US, which are leftist elites, seem to think protesting is reserved for the left. They dont know how to handle it, which is why they fall back on the racist card. To imply there is a segment of the tea party as racist is unfounded and irresponsible. Ironically, Europe helped create the tea-party. The shock of wild accusations and doubts of our integrity, forced us to rediscover what it means to be American. We had to come to grips with the ugly fact that we are great. Thanks.

[tecumseh1175]

I give you points for trying to understand America. Europeans always seem to think they know us better then we do. Im tired of explaining to Europeans whats going on. To be American, all you have to do is trust yourself and mistrust govt. We all left or were kicked out of other countries, which results in a fierce competetive chip our shoulders.The tea party is anti-establishment and has the leftist elites from around the world in a panic.They know that whatever works here will end up in Europe

[ProgressiveAudio]

@653phoenix Thanks.

[653phoenix]

@ProgressiveAudio haha no need to get defensive, man. I don't think I was saying random gibberish, but if you disagree that's fine. Best wishes.

[ProgressiveAudio]

@653phoenix "I'm assuming your response implies that Spain, Italy and the UK are insufficient in claiming that nation-states are not abundant." No, I just think youre saying random gibberish. "I guess a response is that I can only think of a few states I WOULD consider nation-states. " good for you

[653phoenix]

@ProgressiveAudio I'm assuming your response implies that Spain, Italy and the UK are insufficient in claiming that nation-states are not abundant. I guess a response is that I can only think of a few states I WOULD consider nation-states. Poland comes to mind, as does Iceland, you could make a case for all the Scandinavian countries really. But really, most modern states include sub-national entities, either recognized or not. What countries do you view as nation-states?

[ProgressiveAudio]

@653phoenix Italy and Spain and the UK aren't nation states? Okay.