Patriotism

It seems to me that patriotism involves much more than flying the flag of your nation.  Flying the flag is easy, patriotism is not always so easy as flying a flag.  It makes me laugh when I am in America to see the American flag on cars not made in America.  Don't misunderstand, I have nothing against cars made in countries other than America.  By all means, if another country's cars are made better, cost less, are more fuel efficient, etc., great, Americans should purchase and drive them.  I just don't understand why some buy these cars and then fly the American flag on them or put American flag decals on them or the like.  Purchasing, or leasing, or otherwise obtaining a car made in Japan, or in Korea, or in Germany, etc., and then putting the American flag on it, does not make that auto suddenly American nor does that flag flying make you a patriot.  If you drive a Japanese, or Korean, or German car, great, no protest from me, but why all the flags from your country?  I am not advocating flying a Japanese flag on a Japanese built auto, it is a flag all by itself.  I think if you are a patriot, you do your best to uphold the principles stated in the documents that established your nation.  In America, those principles are equality, the right to life, to liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.  Separation of church and state, freedom of thought and speech, and so many more that can all be gathered under the title of  "Freedom."  Upholding those principles is much more difficult than blind flag-flying.  But, to paraphrase President Kennedy, we must choose to do those things because they are hard not because they are easy.