I think many people (we won't mention any names) have to figure out what they believe. They say: "America is the greatest country in the world." But their rhetoric doesn't really allow for this possibility.

When you ask them: "Ok, so America is great. When? Throughout its history?" They answer: "Of course not! America was one of the most racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic etc… nations in all of history"—or what ever other one-word pejorative the intellectually lazy invoke.

In response, we comment: "Fine, so then even though it was all those bad things, it has become the greatest country, right?" They answer: "Well, no. Really, America was a beacon of hope and opportunity, but now it is a sexist, racist, homophobic, imperialistic, anti-environment etc...nation."

Thus, now a bit confused, we ask: "OK, so maybe you mean: it is the greatest country, but it is just not perfect. But it is still the best, or among the best, out there, right?" They answer again: "Well, maybe. But in truth places like Sweden with their moral relativism and socialism are far better at almost everything."

So in the end, really, in the eyes of many people on one side of the political/cultural spectrum, America is a mediocre country, at best. And that's fine. I have no problem per se with someone taking that foolish position. But please, be candid about it.