I wonder if part of what helped to radicalize me was that when I was a teen I was able to interact with people from around the world so when we'd talk about things going on in America I was confronted with how horrifying some of the things that are totally normal here truly are.

absolutely. But it's OK because we know that when Jesus comes back he will absolutely be American. So it's like preemptive worship, you know?

Back in my Christian days calling this idolatry was one of my more controversial beliefs (for a Christian).