The nation defined by Benedict Anderson as an “imagined community” is excellent with regards to the individual creation of the nation as an idea, but it does not examine the effects of acceptance of the idea of the nation on the individual self-identity (Anderson, B., 1983, Page 6). In addition, as being part of a group, we could conversely easily, read the same books, same newspapers, abide by the same law, answer to the same court, and eventually serve in the same army against people whose language we cannot understand or other nations across the globe. This is to say, individuals through imaginatively creating connections with one another develop the nation but these same individuals also develop new concepts of self which alters the worldview of people to come later. Nationalism and national identity are vital aspects as Anderson claims, to understand nationalism we must look at how national identity has formed over time which can account for why we are so meaningful today. He goes out to locate the origin of national consciousness, and he traces the origins in practices from the Americans, both Spanish and Anglo then their adaptations in linguistic nationalism. During that time Creoles were crucial in the process as they lived and were educated in two different world views as well as Rizal linked to his family lineage and education as he acquired European-based ideas shown in another language. Also educational differences and political status contribute to some individuals becoming unaware of what lies or exists beyond the world across the globe because of the language barrier they may not understand the language used as it is not their native or mother tongue, so as a result they would believe or accepted the values or ideas presented without even knowing or examining all of the others whom they identify with.
Rizal’s identity as a part of the Filipino nation is somehow connected to the outside world, yet there is still the question of why Rizal chose to accept a worldview that supported nationalism, which was decidedly based on European ideas. To understand this process, it is important to examine the ideologies available to Filipinos. The life and writings of Rizal develop a sense of national identity and exploitation that may occur in his nation depicted almost in his works, he made use of print capitalism as leaned outside to gain national consciousness. When a group of people is discriminated against, especially since the creation of liberal ideology, they often find commonalities and begin to consider themselves a group, and in the case of the Filipinos, a nation, which helps them to begin to change the way the Filipinos value themselves. No doubt Rizal wanted a total reconstruction of society ranging and through transformation.
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I agree with their idea of Anderson about a nation, which I found persuasive it provides us with mind-provoking ideas that make you think and feel a sense of belonging to a group of people who are on the same wavelength and have similar interests and motivations, the idea of the community as an equal comradeship. Creole class contributed to the emergence of the Filipino nation as print capitalism arose as the prime mover for the development of distinctly national consciousness. Nationalism seems to simply emerge as a result of print capitalism which contributes to a new field of study and has been influential in many interdisciplinary studies.
Since Rizal identifies as part of the Filipino nation is somehow connected to the outside world, and yet through his works Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo depicted how Rizal examined inequality and exploitations in our nation. Even though Rizal has physical inadequacies (short height, frail body) as Radaic states, (Joaquin, N.,1977, Page 57) produced an inferiority complex that drove him to compensate by cultivating his intellectual resources and sharpening his skills in artistic endeavors (writing, musical, theatrical performances, etc.). Rizal physical appearance defects, in other words, the diminutive size of Rizal’s body explains both positive and negative aspects of life. His omnivorous capacity in learning language is his pro-life writing.
Print capitalism was a form of business enterprise that not only shaped and circulated culture but was a part of capitalist production. It helps produce the national units that throughout the history of capitalism have been basic to the organization and protection of capitalist business exploitation, and defense of property advantages novels and newspapers were prime exemplars of the “infrastructure” of national imaginaries in Anderson’s original book, and both grew based on print capitalism.
As Anderson claims nationalism is caused by the increase in literacy and the decline of specific languages, creating a unified mode of communication. (Anderson, B., 1983, Chapter 4)
“The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier”, for Anderson, tombs of the Unknown soldier are the quintessential symbol of modern nationalism, embodying the quasi-mystical significance attached to the idea of nationhood (Imagined Community, Chapter 2 Page 9). The cultural meaning of such monuments lies in their association with personal anonymity, national destiny, mortality, and the human aspiration toward eternity. Anderson observes that the reverence they evoke requires that the tombs are empty, or the remains they contain unidentifiable. Yet void as these tombs are identifiable mortal remains or immortal souls, they are nonetheless saturated with ghostly national imaginings. Without the specificity of personal identity monuments. Anderson talks of an unknown soldier as an example of nationalism. We have different identity, we have different nations but still, it’s the same imagined community.
For me the idea of Joaquin and Anderson is good, the Creoles are valuable because they fight for their rights. Between the Creole Revolution and Revolt of the Mass, the Creole Revolution is the one I want because it seems to know that it's better to fight with intelligence that fighting with power. While in the imagined community, I think that not only imagined but it happened to our nation.
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