Well after coming home from a
america, I was really shocked.

I had grown up believing that it was THE LAND OF THE FREE.

But what the heck does that mean

I left a country that I thought was having trouble.
I arrived in a country that I saw trouble everywhere.

I left a country where we talk to everyone,
I arrived in a country where its like nobody is game to talk to you.

I left a country where, where if you want to get up off your butt and work then your opportunities are limitless.
I arrived in a country where it seems you opportunities to succeed are limited.

I left home knowing that my children can leave school at 16 or 18 ifhey choose and walk into a good job here and not have to worry as long as they put in the effort.
I arrived in a country, that it seems like the children are in school forever and even if they want to work, they still may have trouble. and if their marks are not great, then their options are limited.

I left home feeling able to walk around without a worry.
I arrived to a place where everyone tells me to be careful , but of what, someone stealing my bag my stuff but why, , dont put your stuff down I dont want to carry it forever.
dont be to friendly. Well what am i supposed to do. Honestly dont this and dont that. i felt like i was 2.

I stopped and asked a soldier for his picture, and it seemed like i had shocked the poor boy just by asking. Why, I was just being friendly. And i wanted his picture. surely this is not strange.

I talked to a navy man for 2 hours on a plane who thought australians where friendly becasue I told him my life story Well what else do you do, when you sit next to someone. hmm now he is coming to australia to visit us on his next trip. soo cool i made a new friend, but it was like peole dont just make random friends.

The next plane I made friends with an Architect, (cant spell it) and he and his wife both have to work to be comfortable, but there daughter struggles inschool and they are worried about her when she is older as she wont have as good an oportunity with out a great education. What happens over there to all those children who dont,have the schooling, how do they cope. We dont need it here.

Hmmm then I found that although everyone was wonderful, people seem trapped in there own little prisons, its like everyone is too scared to smile or let peole see who they really are inside.

When did you all dance in the street, or run around inthe rain, or just giggle beceu you could. or stop and chat to someone you dont know for an hour or two. Or ring a wrong number and make new friends.


anyway, what doyou think that THE LAND OF THE FREE MEANS.
Just it didnt appear free when i was there. so what do you think it actually means.

I think you summed up the US nicely. There ain't nothing free in this land..........

But when did you all lose the freedom to feel free in yourselves. Why do you all have walls up to protect yourselves. How did a country that was so great, let its people lose that

I know I have probably got it wrong but i am just curious

For me Land of the Free means you are free to do everything as long as you are not violating the Law, and if you are violating as long as you will not get caught.
Cause if you get caught then you are absolutely not free

hmmm well here it seems like if you can make up an excuse then you can just about get off

Yeaaah but It should be a good EXCUSE

You didn't get it wrong. We all wonder what happened. The job losses and horrible economy have brought everyone down and even those that have jobs are unsure as to whether or not they will continue to work.
Losing all you have worked all of your life for and living with the questions of what will become of our children and grandchildren weighs heavy on everyone....seems it's been awhile since we have had anything to be happy about as a country.

The above message is brought to you by the Republican National Committee.

We used to dance in the streets all the time, until we started getting hit by cars.

Perhaps were all so afraid to be "BRAVE" in this "LAND OF THE FREE" in fear of not having all the things we really dont require to begin with that we have become just another puppet-on-a-string and continue to lay back waiting for our turn to be spanked or penalized or whatever may come down next.I personally believe the "BRAVE" can still make a difference but some "FREEDOM" may have to be self chosen by sacrifice to make any change as sitting around waiting for your turn can simply add to all the "FREEDOM" we have lost by anothers accord in this "LAND OF THE FREE" Stand up Americans and be noticed!

freedom is not just your opinion after a visit.

I admit our Government is far from perfect but we

are still protected under a constitution of rights.

Most true Americans are free regardless of recent

terrorist events. Also big city's here give the illusion

that we are a savage people. Well, I agree certain groups of

people here are ignorant and and a prisoner of their own making.

I spend most of my time in Washington , State in the Great Pacific

Northwest. Just take a look at this video my friends made at out favorite

cliff jumping spot. Next time you come to America , look me up and I will

show you freedom !

cliff jump vid: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJ4thf9J4f8

Love the Pacific Northwest. Lived in Washington State most of my life.

I don't believe it is an illusion friend. I do love the area you live in. Overpopulation will reach you as well..........

in this country anyone can go anywhere and say anything or do anything they want. people can express themselves in any way shape or form that they choose. as long as those expressions do not infringe on the right of others to do the same. you don't have to like what another person is doing, but you don't have the right to stop him from doing it. in other countries if you don't like something and you complain about it the government will suppress you mercilessly. here the government will protect you and allow you to voice your complaint. sure the economy is bad, and education is suffering, and programs are failing, but not because of freedom. any company with bad management suffers. freedom isn't about leaving the keys in your car and your front door unlocked, or walking around befriending everyone you see. it's about being able to buy a car, house, or whatever you see and suddenly can't live without, and put yourself in debt with anything you want without the government limiting you. or traveling from state to state without the government stopping you and asking you what diabolical scheme you are plotting. when i joined the marine corps years ago it was because i believed that these freedoms for everyone were worth fighting for. i believed i could stand up and fight for all those who could not (or would not) fight for themselves. i don't believe in everything everyone else believes in, but i will fight for their right to believe in it. you can judge america all you want, hate it even, but if you ever get government suppression for expressing that belief, it won't be in america

*applauds*

Nice, Ese.

You obviously didn't come to Texas! I just spent three days talking to people I didn't know, making friends, dancing in the street and (a little bit) walking in the rain.

When I was in Australia, I was surprised how much it was like Texas in decades past. Texas is rapidly becoming more like Mexico because of millions of illegals and more like the Northern and Eastern United States because millions are moving to Texas for jobs and a better life.

The "official" motto of the State tourist bureau is "Texas ... like a whole other country!".

The word Texas is from the Tejas Indians which means "friendly".

When I drove to Alaska and came to the Canadian border the border guard looked at my passport and "From Texas huh? Do you have any guns? I said "of course, I'm from Texas!" They looked at my guns and decided that I couldn't bring one of them in because it looked "scary" (they had to call in a supervisor to make this call!) so I had to turn around and leave it at a convenience store till I came back!

Coming back from Alaska, as I crossed the border from Canada back into the US, the US customs agent looked at my passport and asked, "Do you have any guns?" I replied, "Of course, lots of them. I'm from Texas!" He just shook his hear and waved me through.

I live in America and would not live anywhere else not sure about most but I have the freedom to choose where I live to choose if I want a education and if my kids get the education in order to better themselves within a job and not have to work just to work.

We have the choice to buy what we want to sure the economy has been in a downfall and I've been caught up in that downfall. But it has not made me a different person. I talk to strangers all the time sit and laugh about the stupid things in life and rejoice of what is yet to come....

All I can say is maybe you hit the wrong state......try Texas next time around......Heck I have never not talked to strangers or stopped someone in the Military and said thank you..... Matter of fact at DFW they have welcome parties for the military each week when they fly in just to make sure they are recognized.

We are 'free' to be.
Thanks to those who went before us.
And people like ese, who would die for
that opportunity.

No offense to anyone military. I am not one to go rah rah USA. The thread was about the state of things and I am sorry it sucks. I guess unless you are from Texas. I have a friend that came back from the service and he lived under a bridge for a year and half. What the hell was he fighting for a government that won't take care of it's own people.........

this government does take care of people, but people who are sick like your friend get left to live under a bridge by people who abuse the system. unfortunately the system lets people play by the honor system, and some people are not honest. the government knows people lie on government assistance program forms, but they don't shut the system down because of those people