A Sloppy Attack on National Conservatism

A great deal of ink has been spilt in recent months about the "new nationalism" taking hold in American politics. Last week, an impressive line-up of theologians joined the chorus of denunciation with an "Open Letter Against the New Nationalism," published at Commonweal. Unfortunately, in its haste to warn Christians to "repudiate . . . the politics of xenophobia," it widely missed its mark—and with it, an important opportunity to condemn the resurgence of racism and tribalistic nativism in America. Christians should condemn these in the strongest possible terms, but responsible condemnation, like just war, requires discrimination.