I don't have an ethnic definition of my nation, I consider that it doesn't matter what ethnic group or nationality a person comes from, that they can become French, but they can only become French on condition that they assimilate into French culture, that they make French history their own.
As I shared with you not so long ago, I'll use Ernest Renan's definition here.
" A nation is a soul, a spiritual principle. Two things, which in truth are but one, constitute this soul, this spiritual principle. One is in the past, the other in the present. One is the possession in common of a rich legacy of memories; the other is the present consent, the desire to live together, the will to continue to assert the inheritance that we have received undivided. Man, gentlemen, is not improvised.
The nation, like the individual, is the culmination of a long past of efforts, sacrifices, and devotions. The cult of ancestors is the most legitimate of all; our ancestors made us what we are. A heroic past, great men, glory (I mean true glory), that is the social capital on which a national idea is based. To have common glories in the past, a common will in the present; to have done great things together, to want to do them again, these are the essential conditions for being a people. We love in proportion to the sacrifices we have made, the ills we have suffered. We love the house we have built and that we pass on. The Spartan chant: "We are what you were; we shall be what you are" is in its simplicity the abbreviated hymn of every homeland. "
I know it may seem contradictory because I have both a universal definition and same time that seems to be quite identity-based lol
Personally I don’t you put enough stock in preserving the French ethnicity.
I believe anyone should be a able to visit any country for even long periods but they will never really belong to that country.
For example I have love and respect for the French and their culture but I would probably never immigrate to France because I would always be an alien in that culture.
Europe is unfortunately letting in too many people from the Middle East, Africa and Asia to the point that I’m worried that nations like France will lose their ethnic and racial identity.
12.8K opinions shared on Society & Politics topic.
There is a difference between being FROM someplace and being OF someplace. I think you know what the difference is. However if I had to explain it you would not understand.
Not weird at all. There is a distinction between 'in' and 'of'. An immigrant is 'in' the host country but not 'of' the host country without adoption of it's culture.
but the french history isn't theirs! the joining is by speakng same language and not act separated but can't claim a history, that was not realy theirs.
No, you're definitely politically interesting.. I do agree that whatever country you choose to migrate to, some assimilation is indeed better and needed..
Exactly, although I think the situation is different for the USA. Because the usa is founded above all on the adherence to values. I'm caricaturing here, but basically, if you love freedom and lady gaga, you're an American lol.
Whereas European nations are countries with long histories built around religion, ethnicity, culture and so on. France is an exception in the sense that we had the French revolution and its universal values like the USA, so France is a mixture of the two lol
France has never been a race or an ethnic group. For the kings of France conquered various regions that were absolutely not French, but assimilated them through culture. For example, when we had our territories in America, the Indians were considered French if they became Christian and adopted our customs. So, in fact, that's why revolutionary ideals took root in France, because our monarchy was already different from others.
Well that's definitely a caricature.. Cause I mean Lady Gaga? I could see Taylor Swift, but even then.. 😂😂.. I get it.. You're saying that America doesn't have a specific cultural history to assimilate to, just values like Freedom.. Whereas France does, but anybody could become French as long as they basically REALLY became French..
And I'm not saying that to disrespect the USA. On the contrary, the US has proven that it is a force to be reckoned with. It's just a difference in history lol
A german that immigrates to japan and assimilates to japanese culture is not a real japanese person and should not be able to speak in japanese politics. Race/genetics is the true nation.
