The meaning is pretty clear IMO - its to do with a person/people pr*stituting their civil freedoms and moral values as a result of fear - in the process turning into the thing that they fear.

no way..fences are our friends.,..per sanita....

and we are doing it to keep out the Cossacks....

OK. Interesting responses. Maybe I should try and clarify a few things.

I'm curious, as Steven is, on what constitutes 'America-bashing', and I'm not sure that we're any closer to that. It may be that it's something like the old judge's definition of pornography - he knows it when he sees it.

But my other point is, if I stray into this gray area of 'America-bashing', will it be automatically construed as such because I am not a USC? I do intend to take up US citizenship at the earliest opportunity; would it still be seen as such then? Will I always be the Brody character in Jaws - "if you weren't born on the island, you're not an islander"? Despite creating a new life here, paying taxes (yes, it is ironic) et al, will I get the "well, if the UK's so bloody good, why not go back there" response any time I mock, for example, Jerry Springer (the new yardstick for Americanism, seemingly)? I'm just curious. One of the reasons I want to became a US citizen is to become more political active here - which would seem hypocritical and oxymoronic (?) if I can't even vote. If the accident of my birthplace is a counter to that, maybe I should be told now. Save me the effort.

And finally, I have in the past and could again easily contribute to a "what I like about America" thread. Equally, one entitled "what I don't miss in the UK". I'm not someone who quite understands patriotism, but having now had a comparison, I can see good and bad in different aspects of both countries. I'm not sure whether that makes me a US-basher or a UK-basher. Maybe just a jerk and an arsehole.

Oh, and if you haven't already, vote in The Biggest Poll EVER. It's un-American not to. (Joke.)

That is certainly one interpretation of it and probably the most common one at that. However, I've also heard people take it to the illogical extreme and suggest that any suspension of liberties in the name of security on any temporary timescale is a misuse of government power. I don't agree with that, since there are times when security does need to override freedom for the sake of the populace.

Having said that, I don't believe in a totalitarian state and I greatly value my rights. In dire circumstances, I can certainly understand the temporary removal of liberties in the name of security, but that's all.

Well at the end of the day its a general statement, not one of law.

It was Leo Strauss who came up with the idea that the constitution and bill of rights should be suspended if the national need is great enough.

I don't believe in that - because its leaves open a loophole that could lead to the kind of events that killed off the German Weimar constitution.

i agree...too suspend the law of the land anytime is dangerous...and unethical......

got a similar one for the 2nd amendment?

oooo chicks with guns....me be so horny now.

me too..............

i know what i'll be wearing on valentines day

It is part of what constitutes your America, after all.

The expurgated version.

yeah, hot chicks with guns. that's two strikes against you right there

wow. the 12 year old boy bathroom humor returns.

so you are saying you are an expert on 12 year old bathroom humor now? if so, quit hanging out there.

I was watching a program about an anthropologist who spent many years living among some native tribes in the Venezualen jungle. He said that it's impossible to write about a particular people without actually having experienced living among them for a period of time.

So Dr. Livingston, you be a native now and be one of us.

Charles, please stop the provoking comments.

i'm not surprised she reported that. funny how her comment "It is part of what constitutes your America, after all. " wasn't addressed.

And that is a provoking comment as well, it doesn't matter if it is in retaliation or not. Everyone needs to stop this now, on both sides. Thanks.

bah...

What we need to do is...

D

A

N

C

E

Come on everybody, let's boogie!

This was an interesting thread for a while before the usual suspects turned it into a personality contest.

Still could be.

I just doubt anyone will honestly answer Steven's question.

The answer is self-evident, or would be - if people weren't so willing to stick to their preconceptions that they are the authority on what constitutes "pro" and "anti" American views.