Exploring Culture, Nationalism, and Personal Experience: An Essay

This essay delves into the intricate relationship between culture and nationalism, framed through a personal narrative. The author reflects on the influence of their grandfather's "Combat Medical Badge" and the values it represents, such as discipline, service, and the supremacy of human life. The essay contrasts the superficial aspects of cultural representation, like clothing, with the deeper significance of internalized values and the commitment to service. The author explores the aspirational nature of these values, emphasizing the importance of earning them through actions rather than merely possessing symbols. The essay references key readings from Geertz, Lieven, Bose, and Beezley to provide a comprehensive understanding of the concepts. Ultimately, the essay argues that culture is not just about external symbols but also about imbibing and embodying the positive values they represent.

Human service is a culture and nationalism is a religion
"Once a soldier, always a soldier" is not a maxim, it represents a culture associated with the
service standards designed for a soldier. The same service standards after a point of time
become the culture for an individual. My grandfather was a medical practitioner; he joined
US Army six decades ago and brought in a "Combat Medical badge" that was given to him.
This badge was a precious symbol for him. He once told my father that this badge is not just
an emblem of the services that he is offering; it is an emblem of the nationalism for him
(Geertz, 2017). It gives him the feeling that he is associated with a great country and a great
culture that promotes discipline and integrity towards the unity of country inhabited by the
people of different origins.
Once he told me that this "Combat Medical Badge" is a powerful sign inside the battlefield, it
commands a respect even from the enemies. It represents all the rules associated with
humanity. It represents a universal culture that talks about the supremacy of human life over
any other conflict. He also told me that every culture promotes a sense of responsibility
among the individual. Various cultures may have a different tolerance level for the presence
of other cultures; however, this co-existence of the cultures forms the crux of the society. He
said “medical combat badge” is all about compassion; it is all about a universal subculture
that allows a human being to act ahead of the boundaries set by other direct cultures
(Beezley, 2012).
Indeed, a few days back when I received this invitation to this special party where I was
allowed to bring a piece or an object to represent my culture, I started thinking about my
distinctive culture that I can represent. Initially, I thought of some traditional dresses and
other deemed insignia of the culture. However, I realized that by doing this I am actually
promoting fashion as a culture. Your clothes, your dressing sense or any other symbol of a
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given culture is a representation only. Culture is something else; the “Combat medical badge”
of my grandfather is not a glorified piece of ornament for me. It is a token of that “disciplined
upbringing” that I received from the side of my grandfather. It signifies the servitude under
fire, ahead of social boundaries (Lieven, 2012).
Even now I feel that I am not entitled to wear it because this badge demands the highest order
of commitment. It has an aspirational value for me, it is true that I own it by the virtue of the
inheritance; however, somehow I feel that I need to earn it for myself, by my deeds and by
inflicting the service standards in my working order. I cannot wear it on my arm because as a
human being I feel inferior to the standards set by his badge. However, I can proudly say that
I am an aspirant of a culture dictated by this "Combat medical badge." I think that culture is
not all about following it blindly by wearing a certain type of cloths; it is more about
imbibing the good and great values that clothes and other tokens of the culture are promoting
(Bose, 2012).
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Bibliography
Beezley, W. H. (2012). Latin American Popular Culture Since Independence: An
Introduction. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield.
Bose, S. (2012). America Right Or Wrong: An Anatomy of American Nationalism. London:
Hachette.
Geertz, C. (2017). The Interpretation of Cultures. London: Hachette.
Lieven, A. (2012). America Right Or Wrong: An Anatomy of American Nationalism. Oxford:
Oxford University Press.
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