Altogether, national hatred is something peculiar. You always find it strongest and most violent where there is the lowest degree of culture. (Johann Wolfgang von Goethe).

Let us call it nationalism. Nationalism has caused two World Wars and endless strife for years. It is the lifeblood of the people who took us into Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan. It is used to whip up sentiment among the poor, who like to feel that at least they are citizens of a powerful nation (if nothing else),keeps the profits pouring in for the armaments industry, and is confused with patriotism by the poorly educated. It does no good to anyone else.

An Epicurean is a citizen of the world, and as such wishes to draw the peoples of the world together, not drive them apart. This is the role of the “city on a hill” folk.