During the recent impeachment investigation a decorated Iraq War veteran who was listening to President Trumps call with Ukraine testified that he heard Trump ask Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden. But almost immediately right wing commentators attempted to question the patriotism of the officer who testified.

A decorated war veteran upholding United States laws that the president is bound by is 'unpatriotic'. Characterizing their comments as absurd doesn't nearly point out the ignorance right wing commentators have continued to display throughout this investigation.

But this incident should call something into question, does patriotism and nationalism even matter? The US aside, countries for centuries have waged wars on the basis of nationalism or even pride. Conflicts on this basis are unnecessary, and continuously emphasizing patriotism and nationalism isn't helping us or our future generations.

These ideas that were created to unify us have unintended effects. Yes national pride and patriotism bring us together, but it brings us together against a common enemy. The nature of these concepts perpetuates a reality where our politicians keep looking for an enemy. Alienating groups just to create headlines has become a norm in our political sphere and it doesn't make sense.

Nationalism creates an 'Us versus Them' mentality. But why does there have to be a versus mentality to begin with? Take for example the primary reason in the current political sphere where nationalism is used, against immigration. Despite study after study stating the positive impacts of immigration, fear mongering tactics and an entitled sense of nationalism has created a racist culture. This wouldn't have happened if we left nationalism in the past to begin with.

Nationalism, pride, patriotism, and conflict driven mentality is a thinking that should be left in the past. The only enemy to policy progress is our own backwards ideas.