Kendall, The only places I have been treated rudely because I am an American (and I don't much care for that term) were France and Canada...but I understand that the French are rude to everyone.

Jayto, there are people here with whom you cannot have a rational discussion. On the topic of the US, two of them are Jim Carroll and Little Hawk (the latter of whom has many other outstanding qualities), because their opinions were ossified many years ago.

Is America great? Of course it is - and so are many other nations, each in their own way. Have we, individually and collectively, made mistakes over the past 225 years? Of course we have, and I would challenge the yank-bashers present to say - and prove - that their own nations have not. Do we "allow our government to carry out" actions on our behalf that are probably illegal and immoral? Perhaps so. Our political structure does not allow for fast regime changes, even when the majority disapproves of the actions of the minority. Should we opt for the alternatives of military juntas or parliamentary revolving doors? I think not.

I think someone said earlier in this discussion that 'we are talking about America, not Americans'. They cannot be separated. "America" consists of over 300 million people, spread out over 3.5 million square miles (or 9.2 million square kilometers, if you prefer). However, it is not empty land, however beautiful. America is not the policies and opinions of a few hundred individuals (or a single individual) stuck on a piece of former swamp between Virginia and Maryland, nor is it the life style of the 8.5 million people stuck in the 300 square miles that comprises New York City. I was in San Antonio for a week last month and we drove over to Phoenix last weekend - a minor matter of a 1,000 miles round trip - and met people in both places of various shades of tan/brown who spoke a number of different languages...but they are all Americans and all part of what makes this country great. They may individually choose to be part of the minority that actively or passively participates in our political process and they may or may not resemble any of the demographics that the media and others point at with pride or alarm but, collectively, they are America.