The Question and Answer Board

[Bird of Prey]

I'll agree that many Americans have certainly left a bad taste in the mouth of the rest of the world, and that America is not perfect by any stretch of the imagination.
In reading your comment and the lyrics to the Rush tune, an unbidden recollection of a Star Trek episode came to mind.
On a planet far, far away too rival populations the "Yangs" and the "Coms" fought for control. In the end Capt. Kirk was able to unite the rival tribes within the "yangs" because ("Citizen of the Universe" or not) he recognized the American Flag and understood the opening lines of the preamble to the Declaration of Independence (though they were horribly mangled).
Quite frankly, I can't think of a character (real or fictional) that better exemplifies the concept of "universal citizen" yet the Patriotism that many scoff at even today was a central part of that character.
Pride in ones homeland is a good thing, rubbing it in the face of outsiders is not. If one takes pride in a thing they will care for it and protect it. These are also good things. the person that takes pride in something has a better understanding of those that also are proud of their homeland. Ultimately it can lead to a common respect.
But when there is not enough pride to engender the caring and protecting, decay sets in. when those living within the decay see others that don't live in such conditions they don't comprehend why and resentment builds. The resentment often grows into jealousy and then hatred. Eventually these "have not's" feel the only way to 'level the field' is through violence.
Sad, but if they had taken pride in building their homelands in the first place a different result might have happened.

The Bird of Prey
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