I'm glad, as a kid, I was exposed to education about economics and an understanding of what living standards were in centuries past. If I'd instead been comparing my life to people with more money than us, I would have maybe been angry, or viewed prosperity as something stolen instead of shared.

I like and have heard the distinction:

"Patriotism is loving your country for what it does. Nationalism is loving your country despite what it does."

then I'll allow it.

"it's not a story! they just go places and shit happens!"

ew no thanks. I'm not obligated to use a tool just because it exists lol. this rationale is how we got cars to cause climate change.