Common Core State Standard L.CCS.1/2/3/4 Grades 6-12: Video of a current news event is presented for discussion to encourage student participation, but also inspire the use of evidence to support logical claims using the main ideas of the video. Students must analyze background information provided about a current event, draw out the main ideas and key details, and review different opinions on the issue. Then, students should present their own claims using facts and analysis for support.
11/12/2018
French president calls nationalism 'a betrayal'
French President Emmanuel Macron decried nationalism in an Armistice Day speech before world leaders, including President Donald Trump. Macron said by embracing the self-interest of nationalism, countries betray their core moral values. While Macron did not name the U.S. president in his speech, Trump has repeatedly referred to himself as a nationalist over the past few weeks, and several outlets described Macron's remarks as a rebuke of Trump's approach. World leaders gathered Sunday to mark the 100-year anniversary of the truce that ended World War I.
■Class discussion: What is nationalism? Where does it come from? What is bad or good about it? What is the role of nationalism in wars? How did nationalism lead to World War I and millions of deaths? Is nationalism similar to tribalism? How are they the same or different? Have nationalism and tribalism been tied to racism, discrimination, violence and even genocide? What do you think President Trump means when he calls himself a nationalist? Why did French President Macron attack nationalism? What other controversies came up at the World War I commemoration?