COVID-19 Pandemic - Selective patriotism

You know what this reminds me of?

Kent Mansley from Iron Giant. He talked a big game about how destroying the giant was for the good of the country and how he was fighting to save America, but when it came down to it, when he was actually faced with the consequences of his actions, what did he say? "SCREW OUR COUNTRY, I WANT TO LIVE!"

He represents everything wrong with the so-called "Patriots" of our country. They're not fighting for their country, they're just trying to protect their own asses, out of fear losing their privilege. Their "Patriotism" is just a fancy cover for it.

In all honesty I think situations like these stem at least in part from inherent contradictions in American nationalism compared to most other nationalisms.

Nationalism is generally an authoritarian, hierarchical ideology: the individual is expected to submerge themselves within a greater national whole and devote themselves to a greater cause in the name of their nation. Most nation's nationalisms are like this.

However, American nationalism also has heavy undertones of extreme individualism in the name of 'liberty' and rebellion from authority due to America's history and national ethos. So therefore American 'patriots' often act in extremely individualistic and chaotic ways that objectively do not serve the greater good of their country, while portraying such actions as the 'American way'.