1 New Rule: Cheering for Lance Armstrong doesn't make you an international cycling aficionado. Unless you can name one other rider in the Tour de France in the last 100 years, you're not a fan, you're just someone who likes it when America beats foreigners. Bill Maher may be on to something.

2 I can name several. My husband's college roommate is a major fan who introduced us to the sport. His whole family flew to France to see a couple of stages last year. I admit that I don't know everything about cycling, but I know at least as much as I do about football or golf.

3 Greg LeMond. Guess that makes me a fan (oh, wait: He's an American, too. Guess that makes me someone who likes it...yep, I do. I really do like it when we beat foreigners!!). I do enjoy watching the sport, even though, like Sarah, I know very little about it. I even enjoy riding on the various rail-trails, even though I carry too much of me around when I do ride (I'm not overweight (obese by the formula?)--I just carry around a lot of spare energy).

1 Yes, but then again Bush also stated yesterday: "Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we." Beliefs are internal. You can say whatever you like, but what comes out of your mouth may not be what's really in your heart (as this quote most assuredly shows). Just ask any politician. As for the nation's "moral foundations": I think that in many ways, we've far surpassed the visions of the Founding Fathers--but in many respects, we haven't even come close to upholding their ideals. And right now--what with "free speech zones," trying to embed once more prejudice into our Constitution, and policies that reward you more for being born into a wealthy family than what you've done--we're still have a long way to go.

2 I completely agree, Sarah. Just spent a few days with my sister. Scarily, she was halfway reasonable this time. Unfortunately, underlying beliefs still the same. She is a 'global citizen.' I am an American. There's a big difference there. She wanted to talk about all the mistakes we've made in the last 30 years, but she didn't want to talk about the actions of the rest of the world. That torques me right up. I didn't manage to hold my temper, but I did manage to apologize for it the next day. What's up with Anonymous e-mail guy? I think if a poster can't give his real e-mail address you should delete his post. Craven.

3 Why am I not posting my e-mail address? Hmm, let me see--I get about 100 messages per day, the vast majority of which are spam. Putting my e-mail address on a public journal like this (that is, one that web spiders *will* crawl through) will only add to that total. Besides, if the only purpose of putting my e-mail up is so that I can be told that I'm "crazy," you've accomplished this just as well here. Also, would you have a problem with an anonymous supporter who was sycophantically agreeing with everything being posted here, or just one who suggests that the situation really is a bit more complicated than "America is always great, and everything will turn out for the best?" I don't believe that America is the world's only villain--in fact, I can't think any major country in the world that hasn't done a host of incredibly stupid things. But, I do believe that America's actions, here and overseas, are viewed through a microscope, and therefore it's incumbent upon us to do the best we can. Every PR debacle and scandal allows someone else in the world to say "look at what the U.S. is doing," and thereby draw attention away from their own misdeeds. We are currently the world's only remaining superpower, and we have done some amazing things over the year--the Marshall Plan, ending the ages of Nazism and communism, etc. And we've done some unbelievably moronic things--the Iran-Contra affair, Watergate and Monicagate, and segregation. Unfortunately, because of our status in the world, we will be villified for our mistakes far more than we will be lauded for our successes, which is why we need to be good global citizens. So, even though I believe that this is one of the greatest countries in the history of civilization, I suppose you believe that I'm "craven" merely for suggesting that America's done anything wrong whatsoever in the entire course of its history. But, that's your opinion, and much as I dislike it, I'll accept that. I'm not expecting many people here to agree with me. I'd just like to see people stop blindly clinging to a particular world-view, but understand where that view comes from, and that there are other equally valid opinions.