Latest news with #nationalidentity
Wall Street Journal
6 days ago
- General
- Wall Street Journal
King Charles Defends Canada's Sovereignty From Trump
OTTAWA—King Charles III delivered a subtle message to President Trump in Canada's Parliament: The country already has a king. Charles, who is king of Canada, said in the rare address on Tuesday that the country is firmly self-determining, rebuking Trump's repeated suggestion that it become part of the U.S. Charles didn't call out Trump directly but played up Canada's proud sense of national identity.
Trade Arabia
26-05-2025
- Health
- Trade Arabia
Active Abu Dhabi launches programme to community well-being
Active Abu Dhabi, an initiative by Emirates Foundation, has launched a programme named Misrah, a programme to promote national identity and community well-being. The initiative, a part of the Year of Community, was announced during an introductory workshop hosted at Active Abu Dhabi headquarters in Al Qana, Abu Dhabi. The workshop brought together representatives from government entities, community organisations, key media and logistics partners, as part of a comprehensive national effort to support community initiatives throughout 2025, in line with the aspirations of the UAE Year of Community. The introductory workshop was attended by by 50 participants, including representatives from government entities, community organisations, and key media and logistics partners. Participants included the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority, Department of Education and Knowledge – Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi Media Office, Department of Community Development, Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi, Ministry of Defense, Nafis Program, Abu Dhabi News Network, National Search and Rescue Center, PureHealth, Abu Dhabi Media, National Library and Archives, Federal Geographic Information Center, National Media Office, Office of the Ruler's Representative, and Abu Dhabi Police, alongside several academic institutions and private sector collaborators. The workshop explored opportunities for cooperation and integration between government and private sector entities, emphasising the vital roles of media, logistics, and culture in supporting the initiative. Misrah is a pivotal national initiative that brings to life the values of the UAE's founding fathers through an immersive journey that weaves together culture, identity, and physical activity. It aims to instill authentic Emirati values in young people. Reflecting Emirates Foundation's commitment to fostering a sense of belonging and social responsibility, Misrah offers transformative experiences that reconnect youth with the UAE's cultural roots and deepen their understanding of the UAE's natural and human environment, by reviving traditions in a modern, meaningful way. Ahmed Talib Al Shamsi, CEO of Emirates Foundation, said: "Misrah embodies the vision we hold at Emirates Foundation, where we believe that true empowerment begins with a sense of belonging, and that community partnerships are the primary drivers of positive change. We are proud of everyone who has contributed to transforming this vision into a national experience that resonates with pride and commitment." Mansour Al Dhaheri, Chairman of Active Abu Dhabi, said: 'Misrah is more than just an initiative; it is a message to every young man and woman that our past serves as a source of inspiration for our future. Health is not only physical but also resides in the soul, connected to a strong identity and authentic community awareness. This initiative truly embodies the essence of Active Abu Dhabi and brings its vision to life." Misrah is aligned with the national vision of fostering a stronger, more united, and socially cohesive community. Misrah combines physical activities, such as walking and camel riding, with heritage experiences that echo the desert lifestyle of past generations, enhancing young people's appreciation of their cultural heritage and inspiring a profound sense of national pride and belonging. Participants will journey up to 1,000 km, over a 30-day journey, across the UAE's diverse landscapes, undertaking daily walks that emulate ancient travel. Along the way, they will cultivate patience, discipline, and a spirit of cooperation.
Malay Mail
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Malay Mail
South-east Asia's folktales get a fresh remix in new ‘Penglipur Lara' anthology
KUALA LUMPUR, May 25 — The publication of the book 'Penglipur Lara: Cerita Rakyat Asia Tenggara' is hoped to impart moral lessons and foster a love for culture, thereby strengthening national identity and self-awareness of the nation, especially among younger generation. National Oral Literature Association (Persalina) president Ninot Aziz said folklore, which is rich in cultural values, language and heritage, should serve as a primary source of inspiration in cultivating a narrative that reflects love for the country and its cultural roots. 'I want them (young readers) to take pride not in Western works but in our own folktales as these stories originate from our land, from our own history,' she told Bernama after the launch of the book in conjunction with the 2025 Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair (KLIBF 2025) here today. The event was launched by Persalina advisor and Sixth National Laureate, Prof Emeritus Muhammad Salleh and was also attended by KLIBF 2025 organising chairman Mohd Khair Ngadiron. Ninot said the process of gathering stories for the book, which was inspired by Muhammad and co-published with Hikayat Fandom, began during the Covid-19 pandemic with members of the association traversing the country to meet storytellers such as Awang Batil in Perlis to 'wayang kulit' and 'mak yong' maestros in Kelantan. 'We are not merely rewriting these folktales, but also taking into account the original dialects and storytelling delivery style to preserve authenticity and strengthen our oral heritage,' she said, adding that efforts are underway to translate the works into English and other languages. In conjunction with Malaysia's Asean chairmanship, Ninot said Persalina has also invited writers from South-east Asian countries such as Indonesia, the Philippines and Brunei to contribute their folktales. 'We have 25 writers and all of them are writing folktales from their own states and countries. This gives us a true sense of regional kinship and cultural unity, as these are stories from South-east Asia,' she said. Ninot also noted that some stories are shared among several countries, such as 'Bidasari', which is known not only in Malaysia but also in the Philippines, Indonesia and Brunei. 'The story of 'Batu Bertangkup' is also included in this book, but it was written by an Indonesian author, not a Malaysian. This shows that these tales are shared among us and through storytelling, we can strengthen our bonds with one another,' she said. Additionally, Ninot mentioned the association is planning to bring the book to the Beijing International Book Fair next month in hopes of attracting Chinese publishers to translate it into Mandarin. 'Penglipur Lara: Cerita Rakyat Asia Tenggara' is available at a special price of RM99 during KLIBF 2025, compared to its original price of RM120 per copy. — Bernama
Telegraph
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
The US forged groups of strangers into a nation. But Britain is different
The Prime Minister has expressed anxiety about the future of Britain as it comes under pressure from unprecedented levels of migration. We were in imminent danger, he said, in what became a highly controversial remark, of turning into an 'island of strangers '. What he meant by this was clear enough: a once-cohesive country with shared values and a common history was now faced with a huge influx of outsiders whose social attitudes were profoundly different and seemingly irreconcilable. The fact of this phenomenon – the huge increase in numbers – in itself, is indisputable. What provoked the wave of outrage was the implicit accusation that these incomers were not, and might never be, prepared to adapt to the new land in which they had settled. They would refuse, in effect, to become British. So they would be permanent 'strangers', maintaining an alien culture which failed to integrate, forming isolated communities which would be cut off from the wider society and destructive of national identity. This is, as things stand, a plausible outcome but it is not unavoidable. I come from a country whose population consists entirely of people who were once strangers. The United States began as a nation of displaced people. Its founding mission was to take in the persecuted and those in despair – the 'tired and poor' – who willingly left behind their hopelessness to adopt a new life. Their descendants, even those who now believe themselves to have a strong sense of a national bond, have never known the Old World experience of local ties which may go back a dozen generations or more. My family, like many others fleeing the Russian pogroms, arrived at Ellis Island at the turn of the last century with very little English, and just the name of a relative who would vouch for them and an address where they could be housed for the moment. They relied on their own extended family and the wider Jewish community to see them through, to help them into employment and offer some sort of security in the new country. The Italians, the Irish, the Poles and the Chinese did much the same. The major cities of the East Coast all had what were effectively isolated communities of a single ethnicity. My father, growing up in his Jewish neighbourhood in Boston, did not speak English until he went to school. On New York's Lower East Side, the shop signs were in Yiddish and that was the language spoken in the streets. Slightly higher up in Manhattan, Little Italy, immortalised in the 'Godfather' films, perpetuated the customs and, unfortunately, the mafia connections of the Sicilians who had settled there. The Irish had the advantage of knowing the language of the New World but still remained tightly cohesive through their Catholic observance. Even though the children who were the first generation born outside the Old Countries became American with remarkable alacrity, there was still considerable pressure on them to remain true to their families' origins. You were Italian-American or Irish-American (as Joe Biden always described himself) and there was always an understanding that your roots lay somewhere else. And yet somehow America managed to create a sense of common purpose and identity which unleashed the potential of these disparate peoples to astonishing effect, producing a dynamism and power that was without precedent in the modern world. How this was achieved – and whether it could be accomplished in the same way in this country – is worth considering. The fact that this was the intentional project of the nation from its inception – that the country saw its moral mission as offering a new home to the unfortunate and dispossessed – made it unique. It is very important to remember this: America's experience of taking in migrants is quite unlike that of the old countries of Europe with their established populations and inherited historical traditions. (Note: the indigenous native Americans did not resent the arrival of the settlers in the original colonies. It was only with the aggressive settlement of the West that the conflict began.) To come to America meant that you had deliberately signed up for this project of building a new nation whose ethos was a conscious commitment to democratic principles and self-determination. American schoolchildren were inculcated in the principles of the Constitution: 'We the people…' and accepted the social contract in which the law was obeyed in return for the government's protection of your rights. I remember being taught precisely those words like a catechism, along with the Pledge of Allegiance which was recited in every classroom. (This is why, incidentally, it is so shocking that Donald Trump seems to know so little about his responsibility to protect the Constitution.) You had to be taught, in a literal and deliberate way, how to be American because it was a national entity that had never existed before, and your decision to do this was a conscious, informed choice. It is significant that the group who had most difficulty in being incorporated into this venture were those who were descended from the one ethnicity which had not come to America by choice: the African slaves. What you got through your formal schooling was reinforced by popular culture. From comic books with their quintessentially American superheroes (Superman's motto was, 'Truth, justice and the American way') to 'Honey-I'm-home' sitcoms with their idealised picture of family life, there was a whole apparatus of instruction in how to live the dream of a model citizen. That was what it took to meld millions of disparate people into a new nationality. What faces Britain now is very different. This country is not a blank slate and it is not an 18th century invention. Its people rarely enunciate what constitutes their national character. They would find such an exercise rather absurd because they are not given to conscious self-examination. Among their notable characteristics are a proclivity for irony, self-deprecation and an enormous respect for personal freedom. All of which would make any programme of indoctrinated patriotism seem ridiculous and un-British. But those are hugely admirable human traits which, given half a chance, should win out against social isolation and repression within a generation.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Hope Lost in America? Not if We Cultivate Patriotism Together
Hope is essential for a thriving society, yet only around half of Americans are hopeful for the nations future. To address this challenge, we need to cultivate a shared patriotic spirit that rises above our divisive politics. The United States is a nation that emphasizes individual liberty, which has helped us become a flourishing country in which people are free to pursue their distinct talents and interests and reach their full potential. However, it is also important for Americans to balance their individualism with a shared positive national identity. Humans are a tribal species, hard-wired to form and maintain group connections. While our group-oriented nature often gets a bad rap because it can sometimes fuel prejudice, discrimination, and violence, particularly when other groups are perceived as a threat, it also helps us build and maintain thriving organizations, communities, and nations. Group affiliation nurtures social trust, unites individuals around shared objectives, and provides a sense of existential meaning that comes from being a valuable member of a family, organization, or cultural group that outlasts ones own lifespan. Thus, when approaching societal problems and goals, it is important to foster a shared national identity - a patriotic spirit that unites us across our differences. The latest research from the Archbridge Institutes Human Flourishing Lab underscores a particular positive feature of patriotism: its relationship with hope for the future of the nation. Hope is a crucial driver of individual and societal flourishing. Hopeful individuals are not only optimistic about the future, but also strongly believe in their ability to improve their lives. This mindset makes them more resilient when confronted with challenges and more adaptable in their strategies for overcoming obstacles and achieving their objectives. Consequently, hopeful individuals tend to excel in life, whether they are pursuing educational, professional, or athletic endeavors. The benefits of a hopeful attitude extend beyond personal achievements. Hopeful individuals are motivated to contribute positively to their families, communities, and society as a whole, and they are more tolerant of those they disagree with - a quality that is essential for the success of a free and diverse society. Hope also supports creativity and innovative problem-solving, which contributes to the entrepreneurship and dynamism that has made America a land of opportunity. So what does patriotism have to do with hope? When people hold a positive view of a group they belong to (known as positive group identity), they are more likely to maintain a hopeful outlook on life. A positive national group identity can thus encourage hopeful attitudes about the countrys future. Indeed, our nationally representative survey of 2,000 American adults found that national pride - an indicator of a positive national group identity - is a strong predictor of national hope. Overall, just over half (56%) of Americans are hopeful for the future of the country. However, a striking disparity emerged when considering the role of patriotism: 64% of respondents who said they are proud to be American indicated that they are hopeful for the future of the nation, compared to just 27% of those who said they are not proud to be American. Critically, this pattern was observed for Americans of all ages and political affiliations. Whether one is young or old, liberal or conservative, patriotism is strongly associated with hope for the future of America. The good news is that 81% of Americans are proud to be American. The challenge, however, is that there is a large patriotism gap between younger generations of liberals, conservatives, and moderates. While over 90% of conservatives, moderates, and liberals aged 60 and above are proud to be American, younger age groups show a significant patriotism gap, with liberals expressing far less pride in their country than their conservative or moderate counterparts. Only 47% of liberals under the age of 30 are proud to be American, compared to 75% of young conservatives. The widening patriotism gap among younger generations, especially between liberals and conservatives, poses a significant obstacle to addressing issues that affect the nations psychological, social, and economic well-being. Young American adults would be wise to learn from their elders that a love of country can transcend political differences. Encouragingly, surveys suggest that Americans are growing tired of divisive politics and media. This offers an opportunity for leaders across all sectors of society to recognize the importance of promoting a unifying and forward-looking national narrative that inspires hope, fosters understanding across differences, and encourages citizens to collaborate towards a better future while upholding a commitment to individual liberty. By embracing both personal freedom and national belonging, we can promote individual and societal flourishing, paving the way for a brighter future for all. Clay Routledge is vice president of Research and director of the Human Flourishing Lab at the Archbridge Institute.
