He's not wrong. Countries are abstractions. Lines on a map. Paper in a filing cabinet.
Most people stall out at the tribal level. The most abstract concept you might be able to settle for is the nation-state, or a country made out of tribesmen.
It's why "country" and "nation" aren't interchangeable, Magic Dirt™ isn't real, and civnats are retarded.
While I was initially dismissive of this idea, the more I think about it, I realize that you're onto something.
In fact, now that you bring up the topic of countries/nations to further scrutiny, I believe I've read this sentiment elsewhere before: that nations as we've known them in the 20th and 21th century are entirely new social constructions.
Differentiating between "country" and "nation" does seem wise indeed, but perhaps with the caveat that "country" is far more real to humans than "nation" is, or vice-versa depending on your definition of these words. I just kind of feel that the word "country" lends itself better to more accurately represent the tribal level you mention than the word "nation" does. It simply resonates better with humanity.
Food for thought.
I still don't like the way the black outright dismissed the idea of fighting for his host country/nation, though.
He's not wrong. Countries are abstractions. Lines on a map. Paper in a filing cabinet.
Most people stall out at the tribal level. The most abstract concept you might be able to settle for is the nation-state, or a country made out of tribesmen.
It's why "country" and "nation" aren't interchangeable, Magic Dirt™ isn't real, and civnats are retarded.
While I was initially dismissive of this idea, the more I think about it, I realize that you're onto something.
In fact, now that you bring up the topic of countries/nations to further scrutiny, I believe I've read this sentiment elsewhere before: that nations as we've known them in the 20th and 21th century are entirely new social constructions.
Differentiating between "country" and "nation" does seem wise indeed, but perhaps with the caveat that "country" is far more real to humans than "nation" is, or vice-versa depending on your definition of these words. I just kind of feel that the word "country" lends itself better to more accurately represent the tribal level you mention than the word "nation" does. It simply resonates better with humanity.
Food for thought.
I still don't like the way the black outright dismissed the idea of fighting for his host country/nation, though.