Please try to avoid the knee-jerk reaction to all the US-bashing. I've read your other posts on this thread and you are a sharp individual. I don't necessarily agree with your opinions, but at least you and others I don't agree with have the intelligence to have and support an opinion. The United States is not the center of the universe or even the free world. I would bet you have made the sacrifices to earn the right to tell someone to "bugger off." It feels good and gives you a momentary sense of gratification to tell the amoral, spineless, misguided, ignorant, resentful intellectuals who think that the Nanny State will take good care of everybody to f' off. However, we need thinking people everywhere to step up and intellectually defend the rights of the individual and state their case in an unemotional and persuasive manner. Don't be goaded into being the "Ugly American." Those who would destroy our system and undermine our beliefs love it when you succumb to their goading. The defenders of freedom are not loved or appreciated until they're dead. Until such time, you will be labeled a jingoist, beaugois (sp,)chauvanist pig and will be hated by those you defend. You know this, I can tell. It really is about "hearts and minds." Lead by example.