Chris:

I'm not so sure it would be a good idea to "display the flag" of the United States of America if you are traveling internationally.

I'm a Canadian who lives in Europe and who works in various countries in Africa. 99% of the American people whom I meet are delightful human beings. However, the American government, most especially the current administration, is not generally well liked or well respected in many other countries of the world.

Most citizens of other countries of the world are smart enough to make a distinction between people who are American vs. the Government of America. However, when you fly a flag, the flag represents that nation, not yourself as an individual. The most commonly seen media images of the American Flag are either on the shoulders of American servicemen and women who are engaged in conflicts in countries that did not invite them, or on the lapel of the suit jacket of the current American president, who is generally not well respected outside of his country.

For this reason, I think it might be best if you didn't "display the flag". Just be your normal nice and friendly self, and let people get to know you as "Chris the human being", not "That American with a flag". No-one expects you to apologize for your government's actions, or to not be proud of being a citizen of our country, but sometimes, discretion is the better part of valour. My personal guess is that 'Sometimes' is going to last until about November of 2008.

Michael