Nationalism and the demented attitude of celebrating what it sought to ruin

One of the oldest traps of nationalism to try to whitewash itself is to disguise itself as patriotism.

What are these 'identity-based approaches' that Pope Leo XIV spoke about in Spain?
Pope St. John Paul II: His Words on Patriotism and Nationalism

This disguise tries to make us believe that nationalism is, therefore, a mere way of loving one's homeland, something harmless that must be embraced by everyone, at the risk of being labeled an enemy of the people or a bad countryman. On October 5, 1995, a Polish Pope, Saint John Paul II, explained the difference between nationalism and true patriotism:

"In this context, we need to clarify the essential difference between an unhealthy form of nationalism, which teaches contempt for other nations or cultures, and patriotism, which is a proper love of one's country. True patriotism never seeks to advance the well-being of one's own nation at the expense of others. For in the end this would harm one's own nation as well: doing wrong damages both aggressor and victim. Nationalism, particularly in its most radical forms, is thus the antithesis of true patriotism, and today we must ensure that extreme nationalism does not continue to give rise to new forms of the aberrations of totalitarianism."

A few days ago, Pope Leo XIV asked us "fleeing from identity-based approaches that seem to explain everything yet only fill the world with “ghosts” and enemies." Wise words that have fallen on deaf ears with regard to some extremists in Spain.

This Wednesday, millions of people, both in Spain and abroad, were able to witness this beautiful spectacle following the blessing of the Tower of Jesus Christ at the Basilica of the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona. This event was a celebration of goodness, beauty, light, and Christ—a message addressed to the whole world, because the Church is Catholic and, therefore, universal. This message that guides us to salvation is a word that does not discriminate based on language, nationality, or race. It is for everyone.

Yesterday it was revealed that separatism attempted to disrupt this spectacle by politically manipulating a choir of 600 people. Catalan nationalism sought to use a Catholic, that is, universal, event to divide and create conflict, openly ignoring Leo XIV's call against identity politics. As a result, the National Police, to prevent incidents, removed the 600 members of the choir. Separatism has this curious knack for ruining everything it touches and for harming the very land it claims to love so much.

Curiosamente, en las últimas horas se han podido ver dos tipos de mezquinos mensajes separatistas en las redes sociales, en algunos casos difundidos por la mismas personas, a pesar de entrar en abierta contradicción. Por un lado están los que presumen del éxito de ese acto utilizándolo para insultar a España, es decir, manipulando burdamente un acto católico (universal) para generar enfrentamiento entre los habitantes de un mismo país. Por otro lado están los mensajes que lamentan que se impidiese al separatismo reventar ese mismo acto, al mismo tiempo que los secesionistas celebran su éxito. Es una actitud puramente demencial, pero esto no es nuevo en el nacionalismo, una ideología que ha parido monstruos horrendos y actos de una irracionalidad espantosa a lo largo de la historia.

Interestingly, in the last few hours, two types of petty separatist messages have appeared on social media, sometimes spread by the same people, despite their blatant contradictions. On the one hand, there are those who boast about the success of the event, using it to insult Spain —that is, crudely manipulating a Catholic (universal) event to sow discord among the inhabitants of the same country. On the other hand, there are messages lamenting that the separatists were prevented from disrupting the same event, while the secessionists celebrate their success. This is a purely demented attitude, but this is nothing new in nationalism, an ideology that has spawned horrendous monsters and acts of appalling irrationality throughout history.

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Photo: Basílica de la Sagrada Família.