It's certainly common behavior to citizens of both countries.

The difference is Americans who bother to travel are normally self-aware enough not to claim it, while the Australians that do, are not.

You seem to have a very selective memory on this.

Out and proud USA #1 folk aren't hard to come by, abroad or at home in the US, the notion of American Exceptionalism is championed proportionally just as much (likely more) than a blind adherance to Australia the Lucky Country.

On those two phrases alone the pro American Exceptionalism crowd do seem at their core to be true believers while the majority of those flying the flag of Australia the Lucky Country are all too aware that Horne coined the phrase with a sneer as a back handed complement.

> You seem to have a very selective memory on this.

I wouldn't say it's selective. Just the result of spending extensive time in both countries. Is it not just as possible you're being defensive?

> Out and proud USA #1 folk aren't hard to come by, abroad or at home in the US,

Right, and my point was the minority of Americans who travel tend to learn the world is a bigger place and their country has a lot of issues.

> while the majority of those flying the flag of Australia the Lucky Country are all too aware that Horne coined the phrase with a sneer as a back handed complement.

Not my experience at all. They say it just as seriously as the Out and proud USA #1 folk you refer to, maybe with a little more awareness and less zealotry, but not that much less.