>>I am amazed at how bloody quickly some people hand over their individual rights to powerful institutions. I wouldn't die from embarrassment but why should a trip begin by being groped at the airport checkpoint? Travel used to be an adventure. Now it's an ordeal, at least the parts in airports.
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>>This entire tirade is the quintessential example of Americans who live under the delusion of "entitlement".
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>>If you don't like it...DON'T FLY.
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>>The whole charade doesn't accomplish anything other than a false sense of security anyway. If I really wanted to take down a plane I could probably think of 10 ways to do it. How are latex gloved hands going where Grandma hasn't felt hands in years going to make us safer?
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>>That isn't what this is about, and you know it. (or maybe you don't).
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>>One of the reasons that our enemies laugh their butts off at us, is that they know the minute they attack us, they can always count on the good old American Snivel Liberties Union to (unknowingly but effectively) do their bidding. I once had the opportunity (if you could call it that) to talk to someone who celebrated the 9/11 attack - he said, "we can always count on bleeding hearts in the United States to weaken the country".
>
>I am not going to say much, because a reaction is clearly what you crave. I will say that I am not a bleeding heart and that I do not consider bellicosity an attitude that does us any good.
>
>I don't feel entitled at all. Maybe you were projecting there.

I'm going to have to point something out here (in all fairness). It's not necessarily directed at you, although it was a few of your posts that demonstrate it so well :o) I've been to some of the poorest locations in this world and I've seen what real deprivation looks like. I've also had my own experience of having nothing more than a sleeping bag and a few small belongings that would fit in one bag to my name. I've gone days without food. I've seen what true malnutrition and shelters from rubbish look like. I am amazed when folks voice poor speak and worrying about the next job and income and yet they have a great (if not a castle to some people on this earth) home, multiple cars (where real poor don't even own a car), computers, laptops, HDTVs and iphones for all of their kids... the extra's never get sold or pawned for food money - life never gets that dire.

If that is not "entitlement" ...