We, the people of the USA certainly aren't perfect and have admittedly
made our share of mistakes from which we will continue to learn and
grow.


The first step toward learning from a mistake, is admitting you made it.

Yet many of the posters around these parts cannot stand critics, and it
appears the reason is that they point out these very mistakes, which nobody
wants to admit they have made.



summarize the core values of our Country, and perhaps even
aspirational goals for the USCF:

Integrity First
Service Before Self
Excellence in All We Do


Just WHAT country are you from?

We were talking about the USA, I thought.
The real USA -- not the imaginary one!




It's easy to be a critic, at least in the USA where you have the
freedom to be one.


Actually, it's *not* so easy beigng a critic. The people who make a
multitude of errors cannot stand having them pointed out, and always seem to
respond with anger and insults; and if you persist and are not frightened away
by these -- nasty, personal attacks, labeling, cursing, and finally, threats.



The only thing valued here is money
and the almighty flag - a rag that people are willing to throw away
their rights for...the very rights that rag is supposed to symbolize.


Take this criticism, for example. Nobody here will even admit that we
Americans are money-obsessed; and those who argue that we are throwing away our
rights, are branded as radicals. Even when they post direct quotes of the
founders of this country, which appear to clearly contradict recent actions by
our government.



One thing which distinguishes us from them, is the way in which we treat our
prisoners of war. While *they* may torture or even kill prisoners without a
second thought, *we* of course, having much higher standards than them, hold
fast to the principles outlined in the Geneva Convention.

What's that? We DO torture prisoners? Oh, *that.* Well, you see, they
weren't technically prisoners of war! They don't count, you see. We classify
them in such a way that we can do whatever we want to them, see? And if you
don't like it, we might do the same to you -- so watch it, mister! Dare to
criticise us, will you....
;-)