because they are told that that is what you do if you are patriotic, and if you don't then you are an American-hating communist with al queda sympathies.

i remember my american girlfriend at the time remarking that the American flag was on everything. everything was themed red white and blue. she got rather sick of it really.

and personally, of all the flags in the world, the only one which elicits an emotion from me is the American Flag. I can't bear to see it. I hate the was it is adorned on things as a symbol of possession. And it makes me wonder how strong these feelings are in people who have been wrongs by USA foriegn policy...