Facing globalism, the modern colonial interest

E. Ablorh-Odjidja

November 13, 2018

It is fascinating how some Africans imbibe news from Europe that support globalism. They seem to think that “globalism” is the newest stage of independence, and in equality and freedom. 

It is not.  Nationalism is.  Globalism is the antithesis of independence.

But some cheered President Macron of France when he scoffed at President Trump for describing himself as a “nationalist” at the recent WWI centennial ceremonies in France.

Trump, in his usual “American First” style, had insisted on the global stage that he was a “nationalist” and a “patriot” to boot.

Then Macron, in turn, responded that “Patriotism is the exact opposite of nationalism: nationalism is a betrayal of patriotism…” 

Leave it to the French to bring gravitas to language, but permit me to state that Macron's statement was absurd.  He seems to have forgotten that he is after all French! 

George Orwell in his essay, “Politics and the English Language" defined talks like Macron’s as a political language that, "is designed to make lies sound truthful."

Such language, Orwell lamented, was made “necessarily vague or meaningless because it was intended to hide the truth rather than express it.”

If ever there was an attempt at doublespeak, Macron just did it.

But there was no hesitation in Macron’s insinuation that Trump was a rube.  And as should be expected, he wouldn’t understand the meaning of the world “nationalist” as it would apply to a patriot.

 The Washington Post, no lover of Trump and never a defender of him on any policy issue for the past two years, came to Macron’s defense. 

Trump, it said “refuses to entertain arguments about the baggage that nationalism carries or show any signs that he is troubled by the historical antecedents to the rise of Nazism in Europe and its overlap with modern racists who call themselves “white nationalist.”

Why the Washington Post wouldn’t want to prop up the urgency of American unity in its nationalism and values, in the face of movements that have destroyed the ideals of the American “melting-pot,” is a question that needs to be asked.

For, is there a common binding force for a nation than its nationalism, America as one nation?  The same can also be asked of France, where there exist separatist sentiments.

Macron's response to Trump, as some observed, was highly political, and exceedingly silly in its attempt at obfuscation.

To detach the meaning of a “patriot” from the regular dictionary definition of the word “nationalist,” in this writer’s view, is the silly or comical part.

The political part is Macron ended his speech without eliciting sincere distinction between the two words, a nationalist and a patriot. 

So, one more time, George Orwell was proven right.

Trump had used the word “nationalist” and "patriot," as opposed to being a globalist.  Serving his nation America, therefore, came first for him.

Macron, the opposite of Trump, had his mind set on globalism, the base of conquest for "wise" colonial European nations.  His wish was to shame Trump, the American, for not being there with him! 

No surprise here. Macron's assumption had instant support in the US and many other places; mostly among the so-called sophisticated class and some pretenders in Africa.

Trump, the presumed racist, had used the word “nationalist,” therefore, the word had to mean something more nefarious, like Nazism!  

And Trump's intent should be brought closer to "historical antecedents to the rise of Nazism in Europe," according to the Washington Post.

But here comes the farcical part.

Is it realistic to assume that Macron was not for “France First” when he stood by Trump on the world stage as the latter spoke?

Had France’s history suddenly been erased because Trump spoke about nationalism?

When Hitler attacked and conquered France in WWII, was It not America that came to save her?  French nationalism was preserved at the sacrifice of thousands of American lives.   

Macron's disposition was no different than that of Charles de Gaulle, a French leader who sought American help against Germany. 

But soon after the war, de Gaule did his best to undercut and limit American influence as best as he could.

Macron, like all French leaders, was comfortable when America’s power is held in check or used to support European globalist adventures. 

Globalism has proven to be a double-edged sword, one side to fend off America and the other to seek prestige for post-colonial gains for France. 

It is no secret that France is no longer a world power. 

But through globalism, she could gain some relevance in world affairs.  Trump’s “America First” push can, therefore, be seen as a threat to the French goal.

For the French it is nationalism for France and for the rest of us, especially her former colonies, it is to make us "global patriots.” 

As exhibited in wars fought in the 20th century, "global patriotism" was a typical colonial French specialty.  

Simply put, the French love "global patriots." African soldiers abandoned their nations to fight for France in all the wars of the 20^th century. 

America did give up her nationalism to save the globalist French.  Only the French maintained their patriotism. 

Many African soldiers, now in their 80s and 90s, who fought and died for France became forgotten.  They were reluctantly made French citizens in 2017 - decades after the last war.

 “France is proud to welcome you, just as you were proud to carry its flag, the flag of freedom,” President Francois Hollande (2012 – 2017) said when he offered the award; expressive and iconic, though ironic in the manner they had been previously forgotten.

Before the presentation, these veteran soldiers had had their war pensions frozen after the colonies “gained independence (from France) in the 1960s.”

France resumed the payments years later, only after a severe prick of conscience.

Even so, the payments were paltry.

“While a French military veteran received €690 a month in 2006 (about $850 then), a sub-Saharan African or North African soldier got about €61. Former colonial solders were allowed to stay in France but could only go home for three months a year,” wrote Quartz.

The French feeling of nationalism, at least in relation to her colonies, was always opportunistic and racial. 

Macron seemed to have forgotten France’s own historic cling to the patriotic and nationalistic sentiments. 

Needless to say, his rebuke of Trump ought to be made hollow by French's own history. 

“France is proud to welcome you, just as you were proud to carry its flag…” Hollande said in his citizen award presentation to the African soldiers.

"Proud to welcome you”!

Yes, for as long as you waved the French flag, in the service of France, you will be welcomed as patriots, just like the welcome for the championship French World Cup team of 2018, which was made up of mostly African players from post-colonial countries!

The above is true picture of an "applied globalism." Trump has signified that he was not going to play that game.

For a divided Africa the lesson is, globalism is a post-colonial scheme; same exploitative motives of the colonial enterprises of past years, that sucked riches from nations in Africa to European countries, especially France.

Trump’s "America First" principle should be a pointer for a united “Africa First” principle.

E. Ablorh-Odjidja, Publisher www.ghanadot.com , Washington, DC, November 13, 2018.

Permission to publish: Please feel free to publish or reproduce, with credits, unedited. If posted at a website, email a copy of the web page to publisher@ghanadot.com. Or don't publish at all.