[Dismas]

America, as a nation, is a fine nation. Complete freedom of speech, none of this hate-speech bans to prevent offending people crap. It truly is the land of opportunity. Unfortunately, a strong part of the nation's citizens are pretty stuck up, notably peoples from south US.

I don't recall where, but there was some study that when Americans traveling abroad were asked where they were from, a strong percentage replied with their state, as if everyone should know the US states. In my own experience(I live in a tourist city), Americans talk to people really slowly in English. If we speak English, we speak it, we don't have impediments.

My bit on patriotism may have been misconstrued as an attack on beliefs, which it wasn't designed to be. I was raising the point, which I hadn't thought of before, that I've only heard Americans refer to themselves as patriotic, whereas a European loyal to their country is referred to as a nationalist, if not just by their nationality(German, Spanish, etc). Part of this terminology is likely a toss to the term being used to describe American revolutionaries, and how Americans, while they love their country just as much as a Frenchman, have violence, and guns, more deeply ingrained into their culture than Europeans.

I've watched a few movies American movies rated for 13 year olds, and the amount of violence in them is staggering. I heard from a neighbor who lived in America for the past few years that nudity and sex are viewed as more obscene then violence, and I'd have to agree, your movie ratings being a prime example. If the word "fuck" occurs more than 5 times in a movie, more than likely it receives an adults-only rating. But a movie with some pretty graphics deaths, such as "The Ring", only gathers a teen rating.

Now, I realize not all Americans are like this. But sadly, enough are of the "we luv gunz we luv violence lets go kill people" crowd that it reflects upon the entirety.

My apologies then. However, I'm a person who loves guns, and not to promote violence - actually to stop it. My concern, although I feel pity for victims, is that gun control will receive much more attention. While that may be a good thing, as mentally unstable individuals shouldn't obtain firearms, it could also be a very very bad thing. As with copyright infringement, the US government doesn't seem to find the best laws for gun control either. As George Washington stated, "a free people ought not only to be armed, but disciplined; to which end a uniform and well-digested plan is requisite; and their safety and interest require that they should promote such manufactories as tend to render them independent of others for essential, particularly military, supplies."

The freedom of speech you mention (which is currently under just as much threat), is the exact same freedom that allows us to possess firearms. Keep in mind, the only way to obtain freedom of speech once again, if it's been taken away, is to use firearms. Additionally, firearms can be used by individuals to protect their families so situations like these don't escalate. While I'd never suggest we allow children to possess firearms at school, it wouldn't hurt to allow teachers and staff to - provided they are under lock and key. As with the Battle of Athens, civilians are able to protect their land from corruption with firearms. This allows the nation to be more independent. Some people, however, can't deal with this amount of responsibility.