I do not live in Boston, and was therefore not under direct threat of having my limbs removed by shrapnel if I left my home this week. So my opinion on Boston-ites initial reaction, or their chosen method of celebration, is irrelevant. Sinec I have never been in a situation remotely similar, it is
completely irrelevant. Ergo, any inflammatory or contradictory ruminations on the above subjects which I may have (from my comfortable computer chair) are irrelevant.
On a lighter note:
If you meet an American nationalist you'll know it, mostly because they never shut up about it
Go back to Khazakstralia. Seriously, though, I agree: the chant is a cultural thing. Europe has been down that road, and it ended in 1945. They're fully entitled to be skeptical about an overabundance of national pride. Considering world history, I consider it a luxury simply to live in a country that hasn't experienced the kinds of things that make you feel iffy about waving your flag.
@Scriver
Not quite sure what you mean there. If you think America hasn't seen it's share of atrocities, you should consider that we were not the first people on this continent, and maybe go ahead and wikipedia the trail of tears.
I think Patriotism is the concept of being proud of your country and what it represents to the rest of humanity, and Nationalism is the concept of being blindly certain of it's inherent superiority. To be completely blunt and objective, we see both here in America. Nationalism is indeed a dangerous thing. I for one am proud to live where I live, but hold no illusions that we are above the rest of the world in all ways.