May I make two requests in this thread, as I find the promise of it's potential to be immense:

1) Might my countrymen respectfully observe Adrian's request to allow non-Americans the floor, at least at the beginning, to allow them the opportunity to state their views and leave them, and feel no burden of defending them, so that we all might learn?

2) May more of the said non-Americans engage the grey matter? I've seen fascinating views of my country from some who have posted in this thread, but I would very much like to see more, especially new views from other cultures and countries already represented. It would be be interesting, for example, to see how Fenrig's, Fragony's and Geoffrey's views contrast with Adrian's. Or whether Brenus would offer a diifferent view then Louis. In short, what is the breadth of viewpoint from various observation points.