I like the national anthem.
It's a good thing I do because, attending dozens of sports events annually, I hear it often.
And I have heard many interpretations, variations, and renditions -- by glee clubs, school and church groups, solo singers, and with a variety of instruments, from accordions to xylophones.
I have heard some knockout performances and some not so great. Some "singers" are shouters; others are twangers. I know those high notes are hard to hit. My preference is for a solemn rendition such as the deep tenor of former New York police officer Daniel Rodriguez or the exuberance of the great soprano, Renee Fleming. And some of the best performances I've heard have come from youngsters.
It was the defense of Fort McHenry in Baltimore Harbor from British attack in 1814, when the American flag kept flying above the fort, that led Francis Scott Key to write the Star-Spangled Banner.
The anthem is on my mind for a couple of reasons.
One is the nationwide sing-along to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the flag that inspired the anthem. (The flag that flew over Fort McHenry 200 years ago is on display at the Smithsonian Institution, having recently undergone a careful restoration and conservation project.)
The anthem and the flag symbolize the nation and represent national pride and patriotism.
And it's that related subject of nationalism that is also on my mind.
We tend to think of nationalism as a positive factor and, in many ways, it is.
However, although ours is a very nationalistic nation, Americans have trouble recognizing or understanding nationalism on the part of others. And there can be confounding dimensions to nationalism.
Let's be clear about the term we are discussing. Nationalism means identification with a group based on a sense of common heritage including some or all of these factors: language, ethnic or racial origins, religion, geographic location, or political base. It can also involve the belief that a nation or nation-state merits political loyalty; often associated with the goals of self-determination and independence.
Note that nationalism does not necessarily apply to a particular political entity within a defined territory. Indeed, some of the tensions and conflicts in world affairs result from geopolitical boundaries that are inconsistent with or oblivious to the communal composition or history of the population within those boundaries, some of which have been arbitrarily drawn.
And we know from history that nationalism can be manipulated for dastardly purposes, notably in Nazi Germany -- as we have recently been reminded with the 70th anniversary of the D-Day invasion.
Nationalism is a driving force in world affairs today. Look at the two communist titans of the Cold War era. The former Soviet Union collapsed and a number of nations that were part of the U.S.S.R. gained independence. However, the leaders of Russia, which was the core of the Soviet empire, haven't abandoned their visions of grandeur. Recent developments in Crimea and Ukraine make that clear. It's not communism but nationalism that constitutes their ideology today.
In China, a communist political structure remains in place, but nationalism is more the prevailing ideology. This is seen in China's attempted assertiveness over the islands in the South and East China Seas. In turn, nationalist and anti-China sentiment runs strong in other claimant nations in the region (Vietnam, Philippines, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia).
The European Union has achieved a remarkable degree of cooperation among nations but is now experiencing a serious revival of nationalism, including some of a rather extreme variety, which threatens the future of the EU.
The desire for independence and autonomy runs deep. In September the people of Scotland will vote on whether to leave the United Kingdom and become an independent nation.
Numerous other examples of the influence and impact of nationalism could be cited. Xenophobia and anti-immigrant sentiments are evident in parts of Europe and a number of corners of the globe.
Mix nationalism with religious fervor and you have a combustible factor, as is apparent in parts of the Middle East and Africa.
Although nationalism can have damaging consequences, we also see other dimensions of nationalism on display. A prime example is in sporting competition like the Olympics or as is currently the case with the World Cup in Brazil, with lots of flag waving and anthem singing.
Americans are proudly hailing the history and aspirations that our flag and anthem symbolize and represent.
We also need to understand that nationalism is a widespread and powerful force in the world today, with multiple dimensions manifested in both positive and detrimental ways.
HOYT PURVIS IS A JOURNALISM AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS PROFESSOR.
Commentary on 06/15/2014