[alexanderstears]

"forced camaraderie" misunderstands camaraderie. The US GOV didn't force people to work together in WWII, it invited them to work together and people rose to the occasion.

Nationalism gives people a way to draw the friend/enemy distinction at the border and a way to resolve differences without civil war.

To the extent that America draws its friend/enemy distinction inwards, civil war becomes inevitable.

It's a real bummer that we think of nationalism as a dirty thing, in its highest form it should be collaborative. One can believe that America is for Americans and illegals need to go back AND believe that those people should improve their own country. The MAGA crowd wouldn't resent Mexico for doing well, or at least there'd be less resentment than the status quo where Mexican nationals come here and misbehave.