The National Self (and the other)
As refugee and immigrant numbers across the globe increase, the cultural and ethnic background that these people bring with them have sparked debates about the benefits as well as the dangers they may have on a country’s national identity. A nation's identity is much more than cheeseburgers, an eagle, and obesity, as many might say about America’s national identity. It is often many identifiers constantly moving and crossing paths to create a whole. Fundamentally, however, a national identity is based on a common culture created from myths and historical memories that a country shares. A nation and its people must share a homeland or historic territory where the people share legal rights and duties, as well as a joint economy (Smith, 1991, p. 14). A nation, however, cannot be defined on its own without a contrast to others, referred to as significant others. Significant others become a threat to national identity when the nation is unstable or experiencing a crisis (Triandafyllido...