Orrin, This is an excellent post, and gives justifications to the venting I've wanted to do over the past 7 or so years, but a) didn't know if anyone would agree with my sentiments, and b) I was just a single voice in a world of complacency. So for that period of time, I internalized what I felt. And it made me feel shameful that I would have those type of feelings and reactions to my home country, the USA; to someplace I was born and raised, and enjoy all the freedoms we all have. But over the last 6 months to a year, I've realized that I am not the only one who has felt something wrong in the tumultuous times our country is in, and that I am definitely not a single voice crying out. Not to get political, but with all of the different bills and laws flying around that constantly peck and chip away at our freedoms, especially those made in the name of 'patriots', those actions and laws already being used and abused without checks or balances in the name of protection and security, and those laws that are so broad and unenforceable but passed out of fear, one quote stands out to me, which I heard in a debate held about 5 - 6 years ago, but can't remember who the debaters were. It went something like this: Person A: A wise man once said, "Those who sacrifice their freedoms for security, deserve neither freedom nor security." Person B: If that person were here today, I'd say he definitely doesn't know what he is talking about when we're trying to protect the American People. Person A: Careful, you have almost slandered our first Postmaster General, elder statesman, and founding fathers of this country, Ben Franklin. We must fight to protect our freedoms, yes. But we should never, ever, give away or sacrifice our freedoms to stay or remain 'safe'. BL.