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Comment by jwr | Hacker News Reader

> Did you do something to earn your nationality?

Some people did. As an example, my grandfather had to fight for the right to live according to his culture, because our country was invaded. Once you fought for your freedom, you begin to feel rather strongly about "nationality", defined as belonging to a group of people that share your cultural beliefs. And yes, you could say he "earned" his nationality. He did not fight in a a war because somebody enticed him to do so: he fought to defend his freedom, his family, and his way of life.

Don't oversimplify those things.

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Was he, per chance, invaded by a nation that loved its nationalism uber alles? A nation that was only recently unified from many tribes, and whose politicians longing for a great nation resulted in 50-70 million dead?

No thanks. Nationality is whose warlords turf you are born on. The second we get over this concept, the world will be a better place.

> The second we get over this concept, the world will be a better place.

Thus paving the way for our multinational corporate overlords to consolidate control. Personally I am very scared for the type of global corruption that will be possible without national boundaries.

As opposed to the national corruption that lends itself to global warfare, genocide, and nuclear warfare? I don't see it as good, nor do I see it as inherently worse.

Agreed, but my fear is that unification allows for consolidation of power in a way that current nation states prevent.

Well, close, but Poland was invaded by a number of neighbors (we also did some invading ourselves, back when we actually could).

Your reasoning makes me think of the prisoner's dilemma. Sure, if everyone agreed to just abandon the concepts of cultural identity (leading to nationality) and live in peace, the world would be a better place. But for the moment, I'm afraid that "world peace" is something that only Miss World candidates speak of regularly.

Btw, I'm not suggesting to abandon cultural identity. Those are natural in a sense, while I feel that nationality is a tool to herd people in. Conflicts will continue to happen, no doubt, we're still human. But at least they are somewhat justified clashes, instead of made up wars that serve only the interests of an elite.

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