French President Macron led tributes to the millions of soldiers killed in World War One on Sunday, using an emotional ceremony in Paris attended by scores of world leaders to warn against nationalism a century on from the conflict.
Macron spoke bluntly of the threat from nationalism, calling it a betrayal of moral values. He said:
“Patriotism is the exact opposite of nationalism: nationalism is a betrayal of patriotism,” Macron said. “When we say ‘our interests come first, those of others don’t matter’, we erase the very thing that a nation holds most precious, that which gives it life and makes it great: its moral values.”
A quick check of the dictionary shows that Macron is full of it. But beyond that, how dare he criticize the leader of the nation that pulled French bacon from the fire in two world wars.
pa·tri·ot·ism
the quality of being patriotic; devotion to and vigorous support for one’s country:
na·tion·al·ism
loyalty and devotion to a nation