The U.S. flag is just about as symbolic as a NY Yankees flag or an Italian flag. It's a team signifier. I like it during the Olympics, when I'm at my most "patriotic", whatever that word means anymore (I would think that patriots would respect the right to protest, and would not cast aspersions on people who do, but apparently, people on this board think it's patriotic to call fellow citizens sons of bitches). I certainly think the flag is overused as a propaganda tool, and people like this think that hugging the flag is more important than actually adhering to the values on which this country was founded:
The National Anthem is to the tune of an English drinking song and should be replaced by "This Land is Your Land" as far as I'm concerned.
You seem to think that Patriotism is Mel Gibson in The Patriot, grabbing the US flag and knocking over the British with it, but it's just a "team" thing. I like the team (especially when Mel Gibson grabs a flag and knocks over the British with it, or we beat Canada in Hockey, etc.), but I understand why people might not. And just because I live in NY, it doesn't mean I have to like the Giants, especially when they have no offensive line and they're terrible.