The OLD Philosopher – John M. Miller
The United States of America was originally founded through the union of thirteen separate British colonies. Each of the colonies thought of itself as an individual extension of Britain on a new continent. After the success of the American Revolution, a “new nation, conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal,” was formed.
To Americans, “nation” and “country” are synonymous, and “state” means Alaska, Arizona, or Arkansas. To most other people around the world, the word “state” connotes what Americans mean when they say nation or country. Thus there is a German state, an Irish state, and an Australian state.
Historically, the word “nation” often connoted ethnicity, not nationality as we understand that word. There was a Bavarian nation, a Burgundian nation, an Iroquois nation, a Navajo nation, an Aztec nation, a Mayan nation, and an Australian Aboriginal nation. Nations were conceived as smaller groups within larger groups.
Saxony and Thuringia in Germany are “states” somewhat like Ohio or California in the USA, but most “nations” or “countries” have provinces (Canada) or regions (Italy) or counties (Ireland), which do not exactly equate to what Americans mean by “states.”
To many Americans, states and their governments are more important than the federal state or its government. Besides, no American would ever refer to “the federal state;” such a term would never enter our vocabulary.
Because of these factors, the word “state” means different things to different nationalities, but only Americans perceive “state” as Americans perceive “state.” To everyone else, state equals nation or country. It is an epistemological puzzle.
John Miller is Pastor of The Chapel Without Walls on Hilton Head Island, SC.
More of his writings may be viewed at www.chapelwithoutwalls.org.