It was a rebellion against another state, for kicking them out of the country. The reason people said goodbye to Europe, because they didn't want to do anything with the king(s). Also, you can be patriotic, patriotism is not equal to loving the state or the system. Check out the Hungarian revolution, they were all patriotic and they fought against the communist system. Just like in Venezuela people like their country, but they disapprove the communist state. There is nothing wrong with the US flag. It represents the country, the nation, the states. Not the government. The government has other flags.