ABSTRACT
A German reunification that comes to people in the name of repairing the damage Germany did would be worthy of consideration. But a German reunification suffused with historical amnesia and fueled by a desire for economic growth and power is a mortal danger to the world. In short, while recognizing the prima facie claims of any nationalism, people need to distinguish between progressive and destructive nationalism. When national identity is used to satisfy the fundamental needs of a people for community, shared culture, shared ideas, and a shared history, we applaud it. There is a progressive nationalism that emerges from the shared struggle of a people against oppression. The kind of nationalism developed by African-Americans to counter the oppression of a white society embodies elements of humanity that can provide a meaningful and ethical framework for many who remain oppressed.
