Americans do not conflate the government with the people. Most countries have a government and then they have a people. In America, the people happen to have a government. The country was born first and a federal government was established much later, only out of the most urgent necessity to preserve its existence.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
