That's one of the things I love about France.

The French can be a bit snooty about how great the French are, but they hold that argument up by actively rewarding an individual's greatness with French Citizenship.

The US takes the exact opposite stance. They act as if individuals are great by virtue OF being American. And so devalue all other people basted solely on their status as an outsider.

The upshot being that being French actually IS a sign of Greatness, where as being American is simply a sing of self-centered ignorance.

This is coming from an American Born US Marine, who has had his patriotism questioned for having a Canadian grandparent.

Apparently 1/4 Canadian means only 3/4 great, and therefore suspect.