To: Peter Dierks who wrote (239123 ) 8/8/2007 9:22:17 PM From: cnyndwllr Read Replies (2) | Respond to of 281500 Peter, re: "You are fortunate you live in America. In the countries you wish to have us emulate you would have already been whisked away by the secret police and not heard from again. " Don't be fooled by your own bile. Why would you equate the fight to keep this country great with some perceived sense that those who criticize the leadership of this country are "hate America" citizens? This is a great country, in spite of the best efforts of those you seem to admire so greatly, and I feel very fortunate to have been born here and to live here. Not all of us line up at attention just because some one sports the trappings of authority. In fact, the plain truth is that this country was founded by men who bristled at the power of those who held authority. That's something you might want to remember. And as far as being "whisked away by secret police," given the power to do that, which of us do you think would be the most likely to take that action against dissenters? Here's a hint, I'm able to see both sides of an issue and I genuinely respects the rights of others to think for themselves, even admiring them when they go against the grain and their thinking opposes mine. In fact, I don't even have to remind myself that they have that right. You, on the other hand, see things in stark black and white terms and when others disagree with you your tendency is to assume that they're dishonest, disloyal, traitors, in league with those who wish to destroy "our way of life," or otherwise "agin us." I've exercised very real power without abusing it. I don't think you'd do well exercising real power. Ed