I can speak as a German: No feelings at all. Of course, Germans have a lot not to be proud of, but I guess a lot of you are like me, Europeans that grew up in the last few decades and for a lot (I dare say) intelligent Europeans, that is a common way to go.
You can object, as each country had a little uprising of right-wing parties, but we non-Nationalists are a silent group. Nobody knows our numbers. There’s no party we vote to express exactly that.
That said, as I grow older and live in other countries, I do learn what connects me to the people that live where I grew up (Northern Germany), I know more about where I come from the longer and further I go away from it. But the flag … burn it. We can print new ones.

Here’s my takeaway claim: Freedom Of Expression is our new flag. Burn that and I’ll be pissed at you.

It’s especially scary how they got the flags over there… Who arranged it, with what motives? Etc… They don’t ask questions to us and also not to themselves about what is all about… That is scary!:-)

Even then, if all (or at least most) people want the same thing - ‘happiness’ or whatever - than what the F**K are we doing to and with each other? :-)

i am about to read the newspaper, especially the coverage on our new ‘queen’ Rita Verdonk. what strikes me as totally medieval is her stand on the death penalty. she (and according to the newspaper of yesterday her followers as well) wants to reinstate the death penalty for murder, rape and terrorism. what is going on? is this just a popular vote? or is this a change in society? i find it horrifying if this is the way WE want to solve our problems.

If I see people burning a flag of my country I would feel angry-hurt. It is irrational (like any feeling :P), because it is just an object, etc. etc.

But anyway, I wonder why I would feel like that. Maybe because I’m not European, or I am not the intelligent type that Nicolas mentions :P.

But I think it has to do with how we are seen or we think we are seen in South America by the rest of the world, or more by the developed world. Our pride and nationalism only exists when we are attacked or criticized by outsiders. It doesn’t matter if it’s a burning flag or a political comment. It’s as if we still need to show that we can, in the world.

Of course other people in South America might feel it differently… Fede?