Nationalism is defined as an extreme form of patriotism, one that is fueled by feelings of superiority over other countries (Qiong and Brewer 728). In the modern world, which seems to be in a perpetual state of volatility, nationalism is incredibly treacherous, particularly when it occurs in some of the largest developed nations. There is no doubt that the U.S. has developed such a mentality as it continues to grow as an empire. Nationalism is quite different from patriotism, its less aggressive counterpart. Without a healthy sense of patriotism and pride for one’s country, a nation’s independence is jeopardized. However, when collective nationalist thinking is allowed to thrive in a country, conflict, mistrust, and divisiveness ensue. Nationalism …show more content…
Cultural ignorance is unsafe in a world where misunderstanding often leads to conflict. Education is the solution. Religion, a primary component of a cultural identity, is so often misunderstood, and most people only have an extensive knowledge of their own religion, making them more intolerant of unfamiliar religions (Laycock). Laycock cites astonishing statistics revealing that “only 10 percent of American teenagers could even name the five world religions.” An interesting prospect is the idea of religious exposure in secondary education, one of the best places to start educating culturally ignorant Americans. While religious persuasion in public schools is against policy, students could only stand to benefit from a general exposure to other religions (“Religion in the Public Schools”). Imagine that a Christian student, who knows next to nothing about world religion, takes a class that provides a survey of Islam. Considering the tensions in the Middle East and the role religion plays in these conflicts, an understanding of Islamic religion can make for more enlightened and socially aware citizens in the U.S. who can form educated opinions on America’s foreign policy and also be more empathetic towards the struggles of foreign peoples. Further fueling the belief that traditional American cultural values are somehow superior to minority or foreign culture identities, many schools only offer classes for Bible study. Another facet of education that can be utilized as a tool for eliminating nationalism is an understanding of historical context. History repeats itself and can serve as a guide for navigating the complex situations facing the modern world. If high schools in America offered more world history courses that focused