And your point about the flag, whatever your intent, sounds like the kind of "my country right or wrong" hogwash that makes me at times embarrassed to be an American.

Care to elaborate more, David?  You see, you perceive any intent period from my text to be something to which you want to start a verbal/text fire, apparently.  Here's a soap box for you to take a stand and define "what it is to be an American" from the mind of one Mr. Baerwald.  Really, I'm not trying to argue with you.  But if you've got the time to rant, I want to listen.  After all, America's troubles mostly stem from the fact that everyone wants to speak, but not take the time to listen.