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I get that too. I'm half american but in no way patriotic. I live in my other half, Austria. I find the patriotism appaling. Reminds me of the Nazis too much. Like singing the anthem at special events (or not so special events). I never sing when i go to a baseball game with my cousins. I just look around at the crowd to tryn pick out the crazy patriots to know to avoid them in the cue at the hotdog stands.

Mind you, i know a lot of americans who live abroad. And they are downright ashamed of the way the country is run and all the frou-frou patritotism. Needless to say they all vote liberal or democrat when elections roll around. Only the ones stuck on military bases vote republican and even thats rare.

My grandparents (on my dad's side) throw annual family get-togethers on the family farm (which we share with them). During that time we often have at least one family flying in from a different country -- to celebrate their coming we take down the American flag (which my grandparents feel obligated to fly) and put up the flag from the traveling company's hailing land to honour their presence.

We have, to date, flown a Finnish flag, a Swedish flag, a British flag, and a Norwegian flag -- the Swedish is used most often.

I live in England and I hardly EVER see flags unless it's the world cup or something. Then they're all over cars and such. It's a little irritating, but I don't mind - they're just showing support for their team.