I'm not emotionally vested in the outcome of America as a nation so much as I am concerned about the viability of western thought as a whole. It's not about skin color or nationality. It's about ideas.

Land is nothing when the generations live and die upon it. Nations are meaningless and yes the USA is a concept.

The boundaries may change, the population may change, someday the political entity that we call the United States of America may cease to exist. But all that matters about us will endure, and will shape the world for all time.

I think we have much to be proud of, and much that can never be taken from us

Nice sentiments. But that bit about shaping the world for all time is up for debate. Much wisdom has been lost to the ages and it has no ability to mold us or our progeny now because it has been lost. I hope that the ideals of western thought will not perish under a new dark age - brought about by another age of faith.

My efforts, I guess, are geared towards finding ways of thwarting the reappearance of another age of faith and giving a longer reign to freedom.

Freedom is the most fundamental right and it is constantly imperiled by those who wish to control others either by means of a nation's laws or a religion's laws. The demographics around the world don't look too promising and the age of faith is hanging like the sword of Damocles over western beliefs and its best achievement, human freedom.

And politicians are byproducts of popular thought in the electorate. As I pointed out once GOP members are not true conservatives, because a true conservative would never seek a job as a politician. So the GOP politicos are merely proxies and, like all politicians, gladhandle folks and manipulate things for their own best interests once in power. I hold no allegiance to any politician, including Bush.

Life goes on and is a learning lesson. I do hope freedom will continue to be valued alongside other western ideals, but realize the world will unfold as it needs to in its constant seeking of balance. Perhaps after another dark age, the next time freedom appears it is no longer a just a western ideal - but a universal one and that the civilizations that emerge from the ashes rise to impossible heights.

;-)