we're sort of like somebody going along-I don't know-in a mine field, you know, dropping matches, just dropping matches, waiting- waiting to hear the bang. Well, the bang might take us all out. So as we have chatted our way through much of American history in the course of this conversation, I think everybody should take a sober look at the world about us, remember that practically everything that you're told about other countries is untrue; what we're told about ourselves and our great strength and how much loved we are, forget it.
In the context of American history, the author uses a metaphor about navigating a minefield to illustrate the precarious situation the country finds itself in. By "dropping matches," it implies that careless actions could result in disastrous consequences. This serves as a cautionary reminder of the fragility of peace and how quickly things can escalate into conflict.
The author further suggests that much of the information the public receives about foreign nations and even internal matters is often misleading or false. This emphasizes the need for critical thinking and skepticism regarding the narratives presented to us about national strength and global perception, encouraging a more sober evaluation of the realities facing the nation.