Originally Posted by ylwjacket

Scottie -

First - DO NOT APOLOGIZE for expressing your views.
Second - obviously, most of us here are American, and a probably more than not are relatively conservative.
Third - In spiteof what may be broadcast overseas, our entire society is built upon free expression of ideas. Hence, my comment #1.
Next - In the free expression of views, things can get a little heated. That is natural, and is not a reason to apologize. W/O these debates, we would atrophy as a society.
Fifth - American politics are extremely divided right now, with about half the country liberal and half conservative. That sometimes makes things ugly.
Sixth - regardless of our internal views and disagreements, Americans will circle their wagons, and strike back hard when threatened from the outside. We generally value our society, the freedoms and liberties it includes, and we will fight for all its worth and all it means to us. Regardless of our liberal/conservative leanings, we are an innately (word?) fiercely patriotic people.
Seventh - I, for one, value opinions from our friends overseas. I might not always agree with them, and you or anyone might suffer the occasional STFU, but I value them nonetheless.
Last - It is probably impossible to understand what it feels like to be an American these days. We are blessed with opportunity, freedom, and free will like no other society on earth. We have our warts, no doubt. However, it sometimes seems that we can do no good in the world. We are constantly under assault. It gets to be a heavy load sometimes. I look at it as a burden of prosperity. That doesn't make it any more fun. For the Average American (and Average Americans have little interest in politics), it is hard to understand why, when they are working hard, trying to put thier kids throiugh school, living a life of minding their own business, people abroad seem to hate our guts.

Hang in there kid.