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I woke feeling discouraged this morning, coming down from the November 11th services and more bombings in Iraq, and more disgusting savagery of Jessica Lynch, opened this thread and its wonderful article which gave me hope.

Thank you for taking the time of posting it. There is much to read and I will copy it to return to over and over again.
Revel's other work which another poster suggested will also be noted by me. Thank you both.

I believe there are still intellectuals in all countries who understand and appreciate the mission which the U.S. has undertaken, whether it be "allowed" as daily speech, or merely an appreciation pondered silently, there is no doubt in mind there are like-thinkers who comprehend what is being done who reside in Europe as well as other regions.

Perhaps the animosity between the European nations and our free world can reflect back to the very birth of the great nation of ours, becoming what Europeans could only dream of becoming, having to find their way by bloody revolution, demise of monarchies, and the resultant difficult times of war, ineffective governments over many years, until they have found their way or the possibility of independence and an accountable Union of Nations. Such as we enjoy in our Union of States.

Yet they always seem to be lagging or at odds with our successes in the arena of personal lifestyle. They choose to put on a "tarted up face" for visitors, while we seek personal satisfaction without regard for others' opinions. We do not only live through our restaurants or tourism, but a comfortable, expected series of personal and familial acquisitions which tend to simplify our life for more leisure, even though we work harder for them. It is our choice - the keyword to fruition - hard work. There is still a huge wealthy "royal" class in Europe and too many lower echelon communities. While we in the huge U.S. middle-class have gifts undeard of which we take for granted. Perhaps a source of envy?

Even if the current governments preach disagreement with the U.S., it matters not as we have witnessed for example - the French can turn on a dime and become your friend overnight. I think it is waste of energy to try and befriend the Europeans at the present time. Let them spy and carp and whine and criticize.

The success of the U.S. would be more readily attained if there were others who would share the responsibilities, but the success of the U.S. mission is not dependent upon other countries, whether they hate us, or simply cannot help through lack of funding, military, equipment or public support.

We have more important matters to settle, and once that is accomplished, we can relax and watch the European Union try to unite as we did through our own bloody birth, joining the 50 states into one huge entity of self-rule.

It isn't always an economic issue, it is a matter of the heart with the European people. They have not had much practice in self-determination nor governance, regardless of the age of their countries, and we must be patient for them to finally reach our level of independent thought which may be quite foreign to them and they therefore cling to the old pack mentality - a hold over from the oppression of royalty and religious doctrine.

As I read words and thoughts such as those in the article, I know there is hope for all of us. Some day. Man's ability to dream - even as a prisoner or under oppression - always allows for one or two to escape to see the possibilities. That is what the United States was founded upon, by dreamers and those who were willing to work to see the dream completed into reality. We shall prevail. I have no doubt.