> On this forum, the American culture has often been criticized and defended.

Ooh dear. I think, when I first came on this site, I was one of the criticisers. Hopefully, my attitude has mellowed a bit, and I think it's time I started saying a couple of things. First, I apologise completely and wholeheartedly to anyone who has met me or read one of my posts and got insulted - I really was stupid a few months ago. Secondly, that post was really quite harsh, wasn't it? It's that kind of thing that gets really angry replies (although some might have been angry at the truth) and I would probably have replied angrily, had it been on this forum. Thirdly, I think I should have planned this post before I started writing it, because it's degenerating into garble...

Phil-"oh, great, now I feel nasty, cynical and depressed...maybe I'll wallow in my own guilt for a while"-bee