isn't it so that most countries have been formed by federating smaller entities that were once fiercely independent ? isn't that similar to the making of the EU ?

i find it perfectly 'natural' to fight and even die for your loved ones but i think nationalism, patriotism and even religions are tools to put artificial walls between people and get them to fight and die for someone else's benefit.

i'm convinced that the less nationalist & patriotic we are the better we will fare as a society.

(this is getting a little off topic, so i've created a new thread for those who want to discuss nationalism & patriotism not related to the EU.)