What are we left with? What defines a nation? Arbitrary borders, common governance...a flag. If you really break it down, a nation is nothing real, yet it is more powerful than God. Aside from a few extremists, not many people are willing to kill and die in the name of religion anymore. But there are countless people across the globe who will fight and die for their country. Their piece of land. Their system of government.

Throughout history, humans have found ways to define and differentiate themselves. Nationalism is just the latest. At times it was religion; at times it was race. It doesn't seem to matter, as long as we have something that tells us who we are, and more importantly, who we aren't.

Let's be clear. I'm not saying we should do away with national boundaries or refuse to identify as Americans. I am just tired of blind obedience and the incessant drumming of nationalistic fervor. I am tired of people who proudly proclaim this is the greatest country on the planet, even though they haven't visited the 197 other possibilites. And I am tired of nothing being accomplished by politicians because they are too caught up in trying to prove who is the most patriotic.

Like politics, religion, and status, nationalism is something we are born with and take as Truth. If you can acknowledge that, if born in another country, your allegience would be to another country, then you must acknowledge that your patriotism is not objective. Maybe this really isn't the greatest country on Earth. Or maybe it is. Who really cares?

This has nothing to do with Bill Maher; he was just a catalyst for these questions brewing deep within the wrinkles of my brain. So, back to the question at hand: If you could cure AIDS or prevent a war or feed starving children, but you had to betray your country, would you do it?

I leave the rest to the comments section...