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by kefka 4140 days ago
You do know that there's no logical reason why there are countries to begin with?

All countries are, are "people" with fences and guns, willing to slaughter people they don't like.

2 comments

Each people has a different identity, heritage, customs, etc; and it's the right of those people to protect their identity, enforce a code that they see fit, etc.

This kind of thinking is what has Africa and Eastern Europe all fucked up, forcing different indigenous groups together, carelessly increasing tensions so bad that wars break out. Go tell Bosnians, Israelites, Japanese, etc., that they shouldn't have their own country, see what happens.

A different interpretation would be that Africa and Eastern EU was fucked up because of the current notion of country: essentially group of people should group together if they have the same identity and agree to the same code, with the corollary being that they can leave and join any group that they share the identity/ code without much obstacles. In other words, countries should exist, but border and restriction on movement shouldn't be.
That's just plain stupid. Of course there are reasons for countries. Look at the subject countries, the USA vs. Mexico.
And those "stupid" boundaries are just lines in the sand. Yes, 2 disparate groups claim ownership over which side of the line someone/something falls on.

But the underlying point is the same: the reason for the "country" is because people with guns and a fence said it is.

And it would be ideal if we all worked together to do something constructive.

You've got it backwards: As long as we live in a world of finite resources, it's utterly rational to capture the best ones then draw lines to defend them. It's irrational idealism that leads to the opposite conclusion.
And, we have enough resources for everyone to have a place to live, and food to never starve. And most civilized places have figured out a basic health system so people don't suffer needlessly.

Yet people are homeless, and people die from malnutrition and starvation. And the sick are ignored, or looked at as cash cows.

And it's not "irrational" idealism. It's acknowledging that there are other ways to socially go forward, rather than the capitalistic "I got mine, so fuck you" mentality. There's enough for everyone. No if's, and's, or buts. It's about time we matured as a global culture and strive for that end.

Culture and identity come to mind as valid reasons to preserve a country.