From the Earth to the Moon Patriotism Quotes

Oh, goodness. The men of the Gun Club—true patriots at heart—wish for war because they know that war strengthens the national identity. Throughout human history, this emphasis on national identity has been a frequent cause of conflict.

The Gun Club sees their moon mission as a form of colonial expansion. Yes, it's certainly true that they're motivated by science as well, but that's clearly not the full picture. As we'll come to see, this nationalistic motivation ends up shaping many of their decisions.

In the novel, Americans are portrayed as rather self-serious about their national pride. Maston's often silly freak-outs are the perfect embodiment of this mentality.