@corrupt, I completely agree with you on that. I just thought it was important to challenge the idea that improving one’s home country necessarily has negative consequences for the rest of the world.

Metren, again, you can do that without associating with your country. The country is around you anyway, that's neither your fault nor your achievement. Obviously you want to change it. But why try to BE it?

Well the question is why the community is connected to a country to you. The whole world is a community. And in my book that's the only one that counts.

What if public criticism causes the government to reverse its policy of sending young (or any) people into illegal and meaningless foreign wars? Does this not have a positive impact on both the world and the country in question?

Radu, yes, but both of those are just legal concepts. And I'm asking why those should be part of your identity.

exactly

What is the point of wanting to improve a community but not associating yourself with it? That is hella backwards to me.