Flags, Germans and historical guilt

Having grown in Spain, I have always been suspicious of people that proudly show off their national flag at every opportunity. ?¢‚Ǩ?ìProbably a fascist?¢‚Ǩ¬ù, I used to think when in high school I would see someone with Spanish flag stickers on his folder. And they mostly were. Conspicuous Spanish flags have been long considered by many as being far right symbols. The Popular Party?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s October 2002 decision to hang a 294 m2 Spanish flag in Col?ɬ?n square (one of the main Madrid?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s squares) sparked a heated debate about ?¢‚Ǩ?ìconstitutional patriotism?¢‚Ǩ¬ù. It seems that the long years of Franco?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s rule have made the national flag into a somewhat fascist symbol.