Sri Lanka, Jan. 30 -- There are nationalists and they are vilified. There are people who vilify nationalism and nationalists and they are called traitors. It's a pick-your-enemy kind of political culture that we live in. It makes for easy, convenient and in the cheap political engagement. People are spoiling for a fight. Perhaps out of boredom, but more likely because 'fight' is what makes certain people feel their lives are worthwhile. It's the fighting that counts and not necessarily the cause.
Typically the focus is on symbols rather than substance, for example the national flagand the national anthem. Neither existed in their current forms 100 years ago and yet people swear by such things or vilify them.
Today the song and dance, so...