Love for Your Country

I dont love my country. In fact, I fail to see how it is possible to love my country. Now, I live in America, and, from somebody whos traveled a bit, its not too bad here. The streets are fairly clean, whiz is free to say more or less what one thinks (outside of school, of course), and the standard of living is fairly high. So, I the likes of living in the US. However, I could never love America. Loving your country is a bit like loving your race, or loving all those who follow your religion it feels nice, but its wrong.America is simply another country. It has its fair office of nice, kind family. It has its fair share of misers. Fully half of its population is UNDER the average intelligence, as in any other country. Fully half is above the average intelligence, too. Just because you extend to live here doesnt make you in any way superior, or in any way special. Or, for that matter, it doesnt make you in any way lowly to anybody.It doesnt mean that you may not be special, or in telligent, or whatever, it simply means that youre not any of those things just because youre American. Being proud of being American is like being proud of being Christian how can you be proud of that? If you want to be proud, be proud of your achievements Youve taught yourself quantum physics, thats a reason to be proud. Your artwork just sold for a whole bunch of money, thats a reason to be proud. You have just learned to read Kanji, thats a dandy reason to be proud.However, being proud because you can wave a cross or a specific flag? Being proud of where, exactly, your dramatics is located? Wheres the sense of that? You have no impact on America. You dont, in any significant way, affect it. Were your vote to count for a hundred votes, youd fluent not affect the country one whit. Therefore, why be proud of something for which youre not responsible, of something that you havent created or affected? Call me stupid (odds are some folks will anyway), but I dont get it.Im not sayin g to hate America. Thats as nonsensical as loving it. What Im saying is why have feelings for a giant chunk of land? Why care for a particular government? Love nice people, if you will. Be proud of belonging to Mensa, if you want. Those are things you can, and should, be proud of. But being proud of belonging to a giant organization for which there are no requirements, other than that you be born there? If your self- esteem is THAT low, Id recommend you talk to psychiatrist, not write to your congressman.