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Ideological isolation is something of a 20th century construct (paradoxically, we are more mobile and more technologically capable of communication than ever)).

Not only do we have the influences of the 'mobile' family (scattered out), but there is the general tendency to live in more urban environments.

Funny how people who live in a town of 2-300 have to actively resist knowing everyone and all about them, but people who live in a building with 2-300 people in it know only a handful of those people at best.

We have been isolated through social trends, employment, and technology, and are only really beginning to use technology to communicate with like minded people (last 20 years, a cultural eyeblink).

Even in the midst of that, there is the Government hovering, listening in, reading what we say and effectively squelching protest and complaint by its very presence.

That adds a level of stress, much like someone looking over one's shoulder while you are performing some delicate task--fearing upsetting the gods of Political Correctness.

The proper attitude, of course, can be expressed in two somewhat crass words, and is inherently defiant.

Internalizing stress is a killer, and not even allowing people to discuss the things which stress them, preemptively negating their arguments and feelings with carefully crafted propaganda and assailing them with even more of the same only increases that stress.

In my personal defiance of that crap (and considering how high rent is in this area), I refuse to let them live in my head rent-free.

As I said, "Let go, Let God".

I live secure in the idea that He will take care of them as He sees fit, in ways I cannot imagine. If 'they' start something, I will do what I can to finish it, and like an ever-increasing sector of the American public, have done what my means and prudence permit to be ready to do so.

In the meantime, I attempt to focus on providing for my family, guiding a couple of generations of children, and (thankfully) can express myself here.

I like what you wrote. We think what we think and write what we write. We know the government is censoring but so what? We don't care. As you said, internalizing the stress is a killer. If we have to censure what we think, feel and write, we are not free any more and I'll be damned if I'm going to spend my remaining years self censoring. The PC devil can go to hell!

If they want us to die, then Molon Labe! Until then, we live a sane and moral life, take care of our own, pray, prepare and communicate with like minded people locally and on Free Republic.

Live Free or Die means more now than ever.