In response to DanielS, what I said was that a lot of people have seen the US as a place that's different from third world countries. If people did not perceive it in this way, or at least better than where they were, I don't think we'd have the staggering number of immigrants that we have. Unfortunately, after September 11th, many of these people have realized or will realize that the US isn't that much different after all. It has a pretty face, but a lot of things are just as they always are everywhere because it's a nation of humans, and humans have universal problems.

If you want to attempt to insult my knowledge of my country's history, or think that I'm saying my country is perfect, well ... you're incorrect in those assumptions. But hey, at least I have the freedom to criticize my own country and government, eh? Many people throughout the world don't even have that. By the way, I said a refuge from the crap that goes on *outside* our country, in other countries. Technically speaking, even if every bad thing in the rest of the world that happens is our fault, it still doesn't usually happen here, and my statement is proven. :)