Hotspur,
I absolutely agree with you! I have gotten more flak (from other Americans, mostly) about living in NYC than being an American in a foreign country has gotten me. I say I'm from New York and people look at me like I have three heads. But just like the ignorant people who "hate Americans," whether they know it or not, I know it's a baseless criticism so it amuses me more than anything else. I just can't take them seriously. I'm perfectly happy to live in America and just as happy to live here in NYC. And we have the best bagels.