[nycplayer]

I lived in Japan for three years, 2002-2005 and I am sorry to say that the country I returned to is not the same one I grew up in. I felt much freer in Japan.

When I grew up, my government couldn't read your mail or listen to your phone call without a warrant, like the Soviets could.

When I grew up you didn't need your papers to travel domestically, like in the USSR.

When I grew up, religious extremists didn't have undue influence over the government, like they did in Iran.

When I grew up, the President didn't have the power to lock up somebody for life, on his word alone, without granting them access to a lawyer, or a judge, or a trial.

When I grew up my country didn't have secret prisons in Eastern Europe like the Soviets did.

When I grew up believed that torture of anyone, including POWs or criminals was unconstitutional. We followed the Geneva conventions, even when our enemies didn't.

When I grew up we faced the threat of nuclear annihilation at any moment - no chickenshit band of airline hijackers would've caused us to piss our pants.

When I grew up, I never dreamed the president would say about my country that "it would be easier as a dictatorship, as long as I'm the dictator"

Would the last one to give up their liberty, please extinguish the torch?