Don't pay much attention to the teasing, and of course, never give up. As with many ignorant western Europeans, many in the USA avoid history study and news of war.
Think of the behavior of hooligans with too much beer in them, singing "Rule Britannia." Although members of US trash culture reject the mere, general thought of "empire," they don't want to be bothered to move away from their television celebrities. From either group, we won't hear much more than slogans and "sound bites."
LOL thats ok I enjoy an old barney now and again