Nonsense.
“Citizens, by birth or choice, of a common country, that country has a right to concentrate your affections. The name of American, which belongs to you in your national capacity, must always exalt the just pride of patriotism more than any appellation derived from local discriminations.” — George Washington, 1796
I don’t argue about whether or not we are Americans, or that we should have pride being such. I put my hand over my heart when the National Anthem is sung, salute the flag, recite the pledge, etc. Yes, I am an American. In the pledge that I recite is the phrase, “and to the Republic, for which it stands.” What is a Republic? Is it not a conglomeration of sovereigns, bound together, respecting each others jurisdiction, and supporting each other in times of war or national disaster? Are we not ostensibly a Constitutional Republic? Or should every State fall into shadow and diminish so that the national government can rule unencumbered? I know this is complex for the modern sensibility, which is trapped in the national paradigm, but at the present time the Republic is but a dying corpse, and sunshine patriots offer no hope in reviving it.