Theonolism

     Individuals, religions, institutions, and political parties all have views that dictates their interpretations of the world around them, that explains their actions, justifies their goals, and accounts for abnormalities in their understanding of new information. A culture usually consists of several of these worldviews varying from a close-knit society with minimal discrepancies to a multicultural society with acknowledged disagreements. A nation state can consist of one or many cultures, people groups, and religions. The worldview of a nation combines the disparate views of its constituents and averages them, polishing the edges yet retaining strength from the fervor of the population.
     The worldview of a nation state, for this article, is theonolism.

Etymology

• The Greek word/derivative for god is "theo." In human mythologies, gods are the most powerful entities in existence from which everything is derived and is accountable to.
• The Greek word/derivative for idea or an area of study is "ol." Examination and refinement is essential to economics, military strategy, and political alliances. The "n" is added as a carry-over from nationalism, a sense of pride that one's nation is unquestionably better than all others.
• The Greek word/derivative for belief is "ism." Belief justifies action, inspires passion, and secures conformity within its converts. 

Components
     Theonolism is a union of culture, religious values, purposes of the state, and international intentions of the state.
     The purposes of the state are the intentions and goals that the governed population desires for the government to achieve. One of the most often used examples of the purpose of government is protection of its citizens. The citizens then must allow the government enablement of that purpose, usually through taxation, but occasionally through war drafts. Once the nation has the support of its population, it can extend itself into the wider world to interact with other countries that have their own theonolisms. Countries with similar beliefs group together and often form alliances that combine their powers throughout the world stage. The stronger a nation is militarily and economically the greater its projection of its theonolism on the world.
     Traditionally, the projection of a nation is termed as its sphere of influence. This sphere depends upon a number of economic, militaristic, geographical, and technological factors, and the result is the ability of a country to alter results within that sphere to best suit its own interests. A nation's theonolism is the values that contribute to decisions within the sphere of influence.

     The theonolism of the United States is roughly summed up by "capitalism" since money governs the United States's actions and interests, but America presents a softer, kinder, humanitarian front as its seeks wealth from other nations. As a democratic-republic the United States allows its citizens to choose the leaders that represent the theonolism of the people which is then projected through its sphere of influence. Many election-based countries have similar mechanisms. The results of this electoral system can create a rapid change in theonolism after an election period because new elected officials use their power to achieve different aims.
     Certain nations have a historical theonolism of expansion such as Russia, the United States, and many European powers. Other nations offer a historical theonolism of containment either because of isolationism or an inability to project such as North Korea, the Middle East, and many African nations. While these trends aid in presenting a cohesive interpretation of a nation's theonolism, theonolism can change if a country gets previously unknown amounts of power or when positioned to obliterate a weakened enemy.
     When theonolisms conflict, the ideological tension can lead to war or trade isolation through sanctions. If two major theonolisms are present in a single nation-state, a by-product culture blends extremes internationally because of division domestically. In the cases of the Ukraine Crisis or the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), a region fights between two theonolisms to determine its dominate theonolism because the status quo negotiation is unacceptable. This conflict sparks many civil wars though the divisive issue can vary widely in scope, impact, and context.
     The new idea that is portrayed in this article is not a word, not a regurgitated analysis of spheres of influence, not a project of philosophical exercise. The idea emphasis of this post is to bring attention to the fact that the mindset, worldview, ideology of a nation is a component of its people's projections on the world. The major components of this are beliefs (assumptions about the world), convictions (desires to keep or alter facets of the world), and empowerment (the ability to enact beliefs and convictions on the world).
     Where in the past, a nation could be represented by a monarch, today's modern elections change the face of leaders too often for them to holistically represent a country's desires. However, since most nations remain on steady courses, the underlying drive of that goal is not a single leader but the collective worldview of the people.


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Agatha Tyche

Nast vs Boss Tweed: A Real Life Cartoon

     The written word has enabled a proliferation of knowledge, communication, and understanding since its induction to human society several thousands of years ago. Before writing, mankind drew pictures, some of which are still evidenced on cave walls around the world. It is pictures that can convey a plethora of complex thoughts in an instant, and Thomas Nast, a nineteenth century political cartoonist, demonstrated the influence that images can have.
     Thomas Nast (1840-1902) became a cartoonist for New York's Harper's Weekly in 1859 and retained that position until 1886. Although he briefly attended school, he never proved adept. His skill was in his pen.
His first published drawing for Harper's Weekly involved the corruption of a police scandal and set the tone, purpose, and politics of most of his career.
     The many accomplishments of Nast include the popularization of iconic portrayals of the Democratic Party's donkey, Uncle Sam, and Lady Columbia as well as the modern depiction of Santa Claus as a cheery, fat man with reindeer. He is credited with inventing the Republican Party's elephant. His largest impacts on history, however, are through the influence he had on the presidential elections from 1864-1884. Because a large number of Americans could not read, the political drawings enabled voters to stay informed. Nast was instrumental in electing Ulysses S. Grant in the 1868 and 1872 elections, Rutherford B. Hayes in 1876, and he is credited with winning Grover Cleveland the small margin by which he won the presidency in 1884.
     Of all of these accomplishments, Nast is perhaps most famed for the take down of William "Boss" M. Tweed and the Tammany Hall Ring of New York City by publishing dozens of images depicting the corruption of the elected officials. Tweed so feared Nast's works that he offered a bribe of $100,000 that increased to $500,000 which Nast refused.

     A few years before Nast's popularity, William Tweed was an elected official from 1858-71 and is credited with the establishment of a criminal organization of New York City officials. The Ring was solid, ensured high payments of its constituents on city jobs, and was influential throughout the courts, legislature, treasury, and ballot box. The Tammany Ring consisted of close friends of Tweed and was highly organized and profitable through money laundering for all involved with estimates from $25-200 million stolen from the City of New York.
     Tweed's success depended on the power of immigrant Irish voters and the city elite's trust in his keeping this portion of the population controlled. During the Orange Riot of 1871, Irish Catholics attacked a Protestant parade where sixty people were killed. This event weakened his interactions with the city elite, but his downfall came from the newspapers. Nast's images were such a problem that Tweed said, "Stop them pictures. I don't care so much what the papers say about me. My constituents don't know how to read, but they can't help seeing them pictures!" Although investigations had been undertaken prior to the riots, Tweed successfully bought off all accusers. When Tweed's friend and bookkeeper died, the books ended up in the hands of the New York Times which published accusatory findings in July 1871.
     In 1873 Tweed was arrested for fraud but escaped in 1875 and fled to Spain. He he was arrested because of his depictions in Nast's drawings.
     Thomas Nast and William Tweed both represented the hope of America to the rest of the world: that hard work could bring wealth, success, and recognition. Nast achieved his wealth and fame through excellent artwork, skillful insight, and artistic talent. Tweed gained influence, power, and riches through scheming, corruption, and gangs. Though neither man died well off, Nast remained respected throughout his life while Tweed has become Nast's caricature: the very image of corrupt corporate wealth.


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Agatha Tyche