Nationalism in Europe doesn’t trump common sense

What’s the distinction between patriotism and nationalism?

On Monday’s “The Glenn Beck Radio Program,” a caller asked if “nationalism” is needed in Europe to fight terrorism and save Western society.

“We don’t need nationalism; we need common sense,” Glenn Beck countered. “We need the idea that sovereignty does matter, that borders do matter. That’s not nationalism.”

You can’t reinvent the term “nationalism” and decide it means something else, Glenn explained. Patriotism is about loving your country, while nationalism is about hating all the other countries.

In the French presidential election, extreme right-wing candidate Marine Le Pen is providing an example of nationalism.

“Le Pen is focusing much more on ‘we hate these things,’ ‘we gotta get rid of these things,’ instead of saying ‘we’re France, we’re a strong France, and we need a return to common sense,’ ” Glenn said. “It may sound very, very similar, but it depends on the background of the person who is saying it. That’s why it’s so easy for countries to slip into nationalism.”

Strongman leaders have used national pride and carefully chosen language to draw people into nationalism before, and people need to be wary.

“Be careful,” Glenn said. “Nationalism means something very specific.”

To see more from Glenn, visit his channel on TheBlaze and listen live to “The Glenn Beck Radio Program” with Glenn Beck, Pat Gray, Stu Burguiere and Jeffy Fisher weekdays 9 a.m.–noon ET on TheBlaze Radio Network.