Technick...a most thoughtful and well written post. (The "Stating the Obvious" prize goes to me.
You should post more, Technick. Lots more.)
You're right. Americans have watched our country slide downhill for a long time. All of the glorious things we were taught as children either weren't true or are no longer true. Our "rights" have been eroded severely. The once treasured - not merely treasured, but the reason this country exists in the first place - "separation of church and state" has ceased to exist.
It's nearly impossible to have watched all of this and have any hope for the future. The visceral reaction to Hurricane Katrina and the failure of this government to care for its citizens is still very fresh.
I'm speaking to you via technology, Technick. I'm grateful for that technology. It doesn't compare to the "real life, in person" conversations we've had, though. (Yes, it's also true that were it not for technology we never would have met in the first place to have those "real life" conversations.)
I don't know exactly when my optimism turned to pessimism. I don't like it, but I can't seem to get the optimism back. I am clearly able to see the great things technology has done...but....
I don't believe in the 2000 year old story book. The "conservatives" and the "religious right" scare the absolute hell out of me. This was *supposed* to be a "secular nation."
I'm running out of points here and my mind is going in several different directions at once, so I'll stop here for now.
Thank you, Technick. Much to think about.