I had no problem whatsoever with your OP Scottish, Buildings get replaced all of the time. Lives don't.
I think of myself as a good American...I am a bit of both liberal and conservative (mostly fiscal). I think of myself as an American before most other things. I have been lucky enough to travel to places where, when I come home, I want to bend my knees and kiss the ground. I have been to places (more than just Africa and the middle east) that have made realize how great I have it to have been born here in America during what I see as a golden age. If I seem to have a problem with some things about the US its because I care about it. Anyone either conservative or liberal who has that goal deep down, whether I agree with them or not, we are the same, Americans with the same goal, different ideas as to how to accomplish them. And yes, I believe we live in a golden age and if you dont think its true, read a little book called 'the good old days weren't so good' and you will understand why I think this. If you can imagine what life was like more than 100 years ago you would know. I had the luck to discuss turn of the century life with my great grandmother who passed away at 100 years of age. She lived in Kansas as well as Georgia. She saw the advent of all modern conveniences and those conveniences didnt make it into her home for some time. She saw the advent of radio, tv, electric lights (they didnt have them for some time), cars (she remembers house and buggys), Computers she never used but she saw them (as did I, I predate the home computer and the internet). Living standards, food standards, education standards, you name it. We live in a golden age. I admit I voted for Bush the first time around. After 9/11 I was very proud, after watching the Taliban on TV saying that Bin Laden was an honored guest in their nation and thumbing their noses, that we wasted little time in going over there and and trying to DO something about the real enemy that caused this disaster. I will always remember...
