Nationalism in the Modern World: How the Media

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Growing up in America today, one of the first lessons taught in school is how to recite the Pledge of Allegiance. Being that these children are in kindergarten, it is highly unlikely that they even know what an allegiance is, let alone understand why they are forced to pledge themselves to a flag. However, it is this early socialization of nationalism, or teaching of common national traditions, that ingrains in people’s heads the importance of their country. Images of the American flag are placed next to images of picnics, fireworks, and families. Thus, Americans tend to associate their flag solely with the imagined nostalgia of the Fourth of July and not with any of the negative aspects of their country. During any time of crisis, the flag always pops up to remind Americans of the life of family and freedom that this country stands for. And yet, after thinking about all of the national symbols and patriotism seen everyday, one can’t help but ask: where does this feeling of nationalism come from? Why do people feel so connected to the flag, especially now in the 21st century? It seems that in the modern age of globalization, a time of uncertainty and instability in terms of jobs, homes, and traditional social structures, people often feel a loss of self-identity and belonging. Thus, people are drawn to images and ideas that encourage a collective identity, a nationalism that offers a sense of security and stability. Yet the media often uses this feeling of insecurity to its advantage by demonizing outsiders and glorifying national symbols. The world today is an unpredictable place. Skyscrapers come crashing down within hours; dot-com millionaires go broke over night; levis break and flood entire cities; domestic laborers lose jobs to workers in third world countries. The economy has begun to move in irregular cycles that now depend more on real estate than on

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