Well, I guess I stirred up the pot. Obviously, I was not concise enough for some people. My point is directed toward the qoute that I used -- the Land of the Free. Others have said that if you "follow the rules" you won't have a problem, and herein lies the rub. You are not truly free if your choices are limited - like no trains, no buses, no light rail -- how free are you if you MUST drive or fly? Limiting your freedom with more "rules" restricts freedom and flies in the face of "Land of the Free."

I also write on the Trains forum and got the thread blocked by the moderators because I spoke of riding frieghts during the 60's. Some of my photos were published on this forum, but on Trains I could not even speak of that. Is this freedom? Hardly! So, if I go down to the railroad station here in Trieste and take photos of the trains, am I liable to get harassed or arrested? Hardly not. Yes, the police are evident at every staion, big or small, but there is the freedom to take photos, something that has been TAKEN AWAY from you. The Land of the Free has been killed, and THAT IS WHAT I AM NOT PROUD OF -- and AMERICANS DID IT! Are you proud of that? I am not -- I'm ashamed of it.