[mikegioia]

> Why die for them when I can just go somewhere else that already has them?

Go where? You can't magically arrive somewhere and become a citizen of that place under their protection and rules of law. Also, what if the place that you go to has fewer liberties than the US?

I can't tell if you're being purposefully difficult or are unable to grasp the concept of dying to protect freedoms.

[Spearchucker]

People have different opinions, formed through each individual's upbringing and environment. I, for instance, cannot and will not place one person above another based on where they're from. So, your ideal isn't my ideal. I will also not die for some else's ideal, especially if that ideal is portrayed as applying to one country and not another[1]. That position got stronger when my son was born. I would die for him. And I will move to another country to protect him, if that's required, in a heartbeat and without a second thought. We're all citizens of a tiny little backwater rock in a huge universe. It would be awesome if we could treat ourselves as equal citizens of the world.

Nationalism is like, so five minutes ago. Patriotism has a place in international sporting events only.

[1] Ref. the way the US treats foreigners and other (even allied) countries.

[kbenson]

I'm in the same position. I have children, and can't imagine putting my life on the line for an ideal, because I don't believe it's my life to give.

My point was more towards the fact that my ability to make a choice on location to live to match my ideals is directly related to others who make those places a reality, and I'm acutely aware of that. I recognize other that work hard and may make the ultimate sacrifice to make the world a better place so I don't have to. That's the least I can do.

[grecy]

> You can't magically arrive somewhere and become a citizen of that place under their protection and rules of law.

Correct. So I have to work hard, and spend years on paperwork to be legally allowed to immigrate into some other country. I was born in country A, which I love. I moved to country B because I wanted to, and have spent 5 years on paperwork becoming a legal resident, and in about 2 more years I will be a citizen of country B and retain A. Also, because of my father's citizenship, I am now a citizen of country C, which happens to be an EU Member country, so I can live and work anywhere there too. At this point in my life, I think I'll eventually float back to country A, because I love it there.

I'm confident that if I worked hard, I could become a citizen of any country in the world I would want to live in (my personal list)

>What if the place that you go to has fewer liberties than the US?

Obviously, I'm not going to choose such a place.