This edition’s Focus story explores our love of foreign football teams. Do we passionately support these teams whilst neglecting our own? Arguably, no. But is our loyalty towards them somehow unpatriotic or un-nationalistic? As a true patriot, I believe in a love of one’s country. However, I do not believe that a love for one’s own country necessarily puts one at odds with other nations. Nationalism is a funny thing. Some call it an evil and indeed when it serves to set us against other cultures it is just that. Such nationalism persuades us that the existence of other groups and cultures somehow puts our own existence, our independence and freedom, in danger. Believing that we need to protect ourselves, we build walls to keep out foreigners. Difference, the ‘other’, is a threat to ‘our way of life’, our jobs, even our people. Much blood has been shed in the name of such nationalism whose roots lie in racism and xenophobia. A love of things foreign and a desire to be part of them are the obvious counterweight. Our main story this week shows how easily people move between Kigali and Kampala. That each city belongs to a different country barely impacts the huge number of people that live and work between the two. Such fluidity breaks down boundaries and crosses borders, mixes people and ideas. And it goes a long way in preventing conflicts between neighbours in the name of nationalism. So while we ought to be sure to cheer just as loudly for our local teams, you can carry on, guilt free, cheering for Man U. Ends
