Jay Honeck wrote:

What about:

This nation was founded by men of many nations and
backgrounds. It was founded on the principle that
all men are created equal, and that the rights of
every man are diminished when the rights of one man
are threatened.

That we no longer seem to believe this is indication enough of a
"lifestyle"
problem.

Well put, Andrew.

Just to be clear: I didn't write that; I merely took the quote from a JFK
speech. I didn't bother to provide a reference as I assumed people would
recognize it as a quote from the indentation, and either recall it or look
it up.

I expect you know this (judging you from your writing), but I don't want
your "well put" comment (thanks, BTW) to mislead anyone else.

Personally, I was responding to Eduardo's broadside against American, by
proclaiming that our new lifestyle "sucks." By any common measure,
this is patently false.

The more subtle aspects of our loss of "rights" brought about by the
closing of certain airports is a different topic, in my opinion.

While I find "sucks" too strong, I assume that this was hyperbole. In my
opinion, our lifestyle is a direct reflection of the rights we enjoy. To
even just threaten those rights is to diminish that lifestyle. We're not
at the "sucking" level yet, true, but the warning flags are out.

But be aware that, to me, "lifestyle" includes more than just "standard of
living".

- Andrew