What if each nation devoted itself to building a unique civilization, an experiment in what it could be like to be human? What if the nations could compete honorably and decently among themselves to see which of these experiments would best advance knowledge, creativity, prosperity, righteousness and godliness? What if each nation could be independent of the others, sometimes admired and sometimes opposed, but always treated with respect? What if the nations resolved disputes through voluntary arbitration, rather than being forced to submit to foreign laws dictated by world bodies dominated by others? What if we could be deeply impressed and moved by the achievements of other nations, even when we ourselves would not wish to live as they do? What if we could speak intelligently and sympathetically about the successes and failures of other peoples, even when our diverging interests force us to fight? What if we could see our own nation as comprised of tribes, each loyal to the others and sharing a single story, yet never homogenous, never the same? What if we could adopt what is beneficial from among the nations, while being seven-fold more determined to reveal what is true and beautiful in our own traditions?
Yoram Hazony is the author of The Virtue of Nationalism, Basic Books, 2018 and president of the Herzl Institute in Jerusalem. www.yoramhazony.org
