I get very mixed feelings when I hear (or read about) someone expressing such blatent intolerance. On the one hand, I am most certainly not a flag waving, flag wearing, wear it on your sleeve, in your face patriot. I certainly support the freedoms that this country enjoys and have been paid for in blood since the Revolution, including the right to express yourself by burning the flag. Did you know that burning the flag is actually the proper way to dispose of a desecrated (e.g. dropped in the dirt) flag?

On the other hand, at the recent St. Patrick's Day parade, one Republican candidate for local political office was driving in the parade with a car carring U.S. flags all over it. One of the flags fell off and landed in the road. People in the parade walked all around it, many carried and waved flags of their own, but nobody bothered to pick it up. I waited until the parade traffic had cleared, then went out to the road and picked it up and gave it to my son. I later explained to him that the flag should never be allowed to touch the ground. I also pointed out to him that as late as the Civil War, keeping the flag flying (i.e. off the ground) was a point of honor, for both sides, often paid for with one's life.

I think moving to another country of one's choosing is, nevertheless, a fine idea. Probably an experience that every American should experience at least once. We lived in Japan for four years. It is very edifying to view your country's behavior through another country's perspective. I think it would make for better Americans and a better America.