a "Harry Haller" in Spaso House

one is born into one's nationality, and unless there was some pre-natal choice (as some ancient accounts would reveal), that is hardly one's achievement, or fault. and even this assumes that one is speaking of "nationality" in the sense of one's political identity, and not as many educated Russians did, and perhaps still do, mainly as of one's culture, ethnicity or country. how serious is it to be proud of the nationality into which one is born (by chance or fiat)? and what was American patriotism in 1776 or 1861, and what will it be in 2076?

American "values", eg freedom, equality, etc, are now (historically again) spoken of abroad as universal human values. secular, they are perhaps not much less ultimately undefinable than characterizations of the divine. and while it is almost impossible in our world to agree on (non)things divine, it is perhaps much more possible for many of differing nationalities to imagine we agree in the ambiguous ideals of eg "freedom".

a "Harry Haller" in Spaso House need not be unpatriotic, but he need see necessary attempts at political solutions as temporary, and often like Nietzsche's "all-too-human", however sincere and well-intended.

-- thoughts from a "town hall" with the new ambassador March 22, 2012, where the transcendent did not disturb, even by its absence.