#34: Problematic Patriotism
Patriotism has been a strong part of American identity ever since the country was founded by Europeans. Back then, you had ideas of “Manifest Destiny,” American exceptionalism, and the American Dream. Of course, many of these ideas still linger, but attitudes toward them have greatly changed. But what’s the cause of this?
According to many sociologists and historians, it’s likely that increased globalization has caused people to view America differently. Being constantly connected to the world around you means that you don’t think of yourself as being so great after all. You’re exposed to tons of other opinions, views, and life experiences.