As an outsider, I observe the vast national self-loathing of some of the posts here, and find them somewhat perverse, and sometimes hysterical. There's a book around called 'Why Do People Hate America?' and to all non-Americans who hate America I would suggest that a large part of the answer is because they haven't got the guts to face the loathsome aspects of their own nations. Utopia does not exist, which is a damn obvious point to make from any country. We all have our informed/ill-informed reasons to dislike elements of our nations, and those of others. But when a person loses all context for their dislike, and all capacity to observe relativities, then they can find themselves in an absurd position: point yr self-loathing at another country and it becomes racism...point it too hard at yourself and you just look silly. Come to Europe, Asia, Africa...the grass ain't much greener, you lucky Americans.
Apologies to rudeboy for dragging this thread out a little...yr right: the sooner people get a grip on their righteous anti-patriotism the better. Let's talk about something else.