Found this, thought I'd share.

I was searching through a diary site (hush, sometimes there are good entries on there) and came across this one. Don't really have anything to add, I just thought it was an interesting read.



"Welcome to America


PLEASE NOTE: I am expressing my own personal opinion. If you choose to be offended by my personal thoughts, and leave me a message expressing your distaste in an immature/malicous manner, expect the comment to be deleted and a message in your box questioning your reasons for berating me for my views. I'm not asking anyone to agree with me, or to disagree with me. I'm merely voicing my thoughts, just as everyone on this website does.

Welcome to the United States. Say what you want, but make sure no one hears. After all, your opinion might offend someone or be considered "different". Do what you wish, but make sure no one finds out. Here, pleasure is not something anyone wants to know about, because happiness is nearly taboo. Think how you like, but make sure no one notices. Should anyone discover you, it might set off alarms knowing that someone is exercising free will and that he/she is in control of him/herself. Welcome to the United States. Land of the free? Speak truth and wind up in trouble, but lie and be rewarded. No one wants to hear the truth, because that would reveal what is wrong and unjust with all that happens. Lie and save yourself. Lying is the Universal Language, everyone speaks it. Save yourself before someone else, and benefit from their pain and suffering, after all, you earned it...right? United we stand, yet divided we live, doing for ourselves first and for others at our convenience. When someone wants a favor, it is not a favor, it is a service. My time is my own and it's not for someone to ask for, it's for someone to pay for. I will tell you I am not for sale, but I lie, just like anyone else who utters those words. Everyone is for sale. Our motto says 'in God we trust' yet we cannot even trust our own neighbors, let alone God. We live with fear and paranoia, afraid to hear what is being said, and afraid to say what needs to be. No one wants to fight for anything because everyone is so apathetic. "Someone else will do it for me". No one wants to instigate a disagreement on the basis of beliefs, who stands up for what they believe in anyways? That's right; just continue looking over your shoulder. When you think someone is watching, you are right, someone IS watching. Welcome to the United States. Leave your hopes and desires at the door. Be prepared to work hard to get nowhere and to die having achieved nothing. Be prepared to be stepped on for what you believe is right and spat upon for defending it. Keep your opinions to yourself, they get no recognition here. Welcome to America.

I often wonder of where the true patriots have gone. I've heard outcry in this country, yet no one does anything about it. Why? Because everyone assumes someone else will stand up for what is thought to be right, and stare down the evil that is thought to be ravaging through our system. Apathy runs rampant and no one takes notice.

I do recognize the many freedoms we possess in this country, but I am more and more beginning to recognize also, the fact that we are often chastized and looked down on for exercising some of them. I simply wish that my country could be as proud as it once was, back when being an American in another country wasn't something to be afraid of. "

your damn right i do things for myself...since when was that a bad thing?