Nations have character, a distinct one. Whether it is because of the dominant nationalistic narrative or the myth building, the character continues inspite of change in the government and other conditions.
Drawing a whimsical analogy to the nations character is quite an interesting exercise.
On a boring Thursday morning, I engaged my self in this exercise drawing parallels between a typical classroom and international politics. Some snippets of the same.
Attention seeking self proclaimed leader (ASSPL): Such kind of characters are usually the one's who would come with a new pencil box and speak loudly about it "My uncle gifted it to me, it is so expensive. You have five partitions in it, it can be opened this way. Yes, you can see it but don't touch it". They also assume that they are the chosen class leader and move around threatening other kids. #USA
Sidekick: Each "attention seeking self proclaimed leader" has a small army of his, a bunch of some of who genuinely believe in their leader, some who realized that he/she has a voice and it can be used. #U.K# Germany.
You go to hell I don't care type: This kind of kids are just in their own world and do not confront the attention seeking type kids. They keep a low profile but some times embarrass the attention seeking leader in public. #Russia.
Kleptomaniac: Kids of this type have a compulsion to steal pencils, erasers from other kids and stay mom. They are very difficult to be caught. #Isreal
Wannabe ASSPL: They don't have the voice as ASSPL but want to be like them, so they try it out at a smaller scale with the weaker ones. # India.
Those poor students: These ones are concluded as those who have low concentration and interest levels, though there doesn't seem to have any reason for the image. They are the ones on whom the teacher doubts even if they perform well. # African Nations.
The notorious ones: These kids are dreaded by their fellow students. Particularly because the leader has spread the image like that.#Arab countries.
The no name ones: These are the low profile kids who live in their own world, whom the teachers don't notice, whom the other students don't notice, who basically are not noticed by anyone. #those nations whose names you don't see in the newspaper