I, too, am sorry. After reading and re-reading your original post and subsequent posts, I see that degrading the USA was not your intent. As a proud American and veteran, I admit to being rather "thin-skinned" at this time in my life and failed to see the irony and cynicism intended in your post. I apologize for my over-reaction.

I hope that the heroic aid we are providing Haiti is beneficial to many that need it, and soon. Unfortunately, the U.S. Military is the ONLY agency capable, at present, of providing the logistics for getting the supplies in, distributed to the people, minimizing the inevitable insurrection and coordinating the restoration of some semblance of order in that difficult country. I have contributed to the Red Cross financially and I continue to pray each day.

I bristle and continue to ache as I have watched our beautiful country diminished, purposely, on so many political and financial fronts. However, we may have "turned the corner" as many of the silent majority are no longer silent. The "political correctness" that has subjected our citizens to harm and death may soon be balanced with the perspective required to identify and prevent terrorists from so freely attacking us.

I hope that we can, again, become the country of which Lincoln spoke in 1863...that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

Rich Hodges