when i read your question on this forum, i cringed... and waited for the first response-writer to throw the first anti-American stone at you instead of just giving a straight-forward answer to your straight-forward question. didn't have to wait long, of course :) see, there's antecedents here... just sift through the pages of this site and you'll find examples everywhere of unadulterated american-bashing at the slightest (if any) provocation.
been living in america all my life (born and raised most of my life in NY) - never been a victim of the crime(s) many members of this forum purport is/are so common in my country - oh, and *gasp* i'm a hispanic AND a woman... and yes, i am a true believer in the right to bear arms... just 'cuz. (self-defense or otherwise)
before i moved here, i had my general pre-conceived notions of the middle east in general (as most westerners do). as i see now, it goes both ways - or all ways. too bad it's mostly canadians and europeans mis-informing, and hurling careless, disrespectful insults for the most part. *tsk-tsk*
with respect to all the forum-contributors (and i truly do respect you, wherever you're from) - i'm shamelessly proud to be an american... in Doha, Qatar... lovin' the culture(s), and... i'd love to meet some of you someday.
when i read your question on this forum, i cringed... and waited for the first response-writer to throw the first anti-American stone at you instead of just giving a straight-forward answer to your straight-forward question. didn't have to wait long, of course :) see, there's antecedents here... just sift through the pages of this site and you'll find examples everywhere of unadulterated american-bashing at the slightest (if any) provocation.
been living in america all my life (born and raised most of my life in NY) - never been a victim of the crime(s) many members of this forum purport is/are so common in my country - oh, and *gasp* i'm a hispanic AND a woman... and yes, i am a true believer in the right to bear arms... just 'cuz. (self-defense or otherwise)
before i moved here, i had my general pre-conceived notions of the middle east in general (as most westerners do). as i see now, it goes both ways - or all ways. too bad it's mostly canadians and europeans mis-informing, and hurling careless, disrespectful insults for the most part. *tsk-tsk*
with respect to all the forum-contributors (and i truly do respect you, wherever you're from) - i'm shamelessly proud to be an american... in Doha, Qatar... lovin' the culture(s), and... i'd love to meet some of you someday.