The reason you can't see stars coming out of a lighted building is because (a) your location (b) light pollution and (c) weather conditions.
It is largely patriotic fervour because people's entire value system would crumble were it ever admitted the photography was, shall we say, manipulated (albeit for honourable reasons, I'm sure). For example, the Apollo capsule found by the Russians now on display in Michigan IIRC, that is sealed and deemed 'classified'. Noone of this generation can be allowed to see inside. Why? What's the problem in letting the public see inside the capsule?