Ironically, I think your claim that: > helping your countrymen before non-countrymen on principle seems foolish and insular to me is a bit insular =). If you

Ironically, I think your claim that: > helping your countrymen before non-countrymen on principle seems foolish and insular to me is a bit insular =). If you travel a bit around the world, having pride in your country, or camaraderie with your countrymen isn't that unusual a viewpoint. In fact, your view-point is a bit unusual (although that doesn't necessarily make it wrong). Many people will put their own country/tribe/family before strangers. I'm probably the other side of the coin to you. To me, the next step is treating your country as nothing more than a business-transaction - I pay taxes, you give me services. I don't like that viewpoint. Having a sense of civic pride - in a shared culture of history with those around you - can lead to many selfless things, and binds people together. Of course, taken too far, you get jingoism - but to my mind, there is a happy middle-ground.