I grew up a rebellious child, I challenged authority and would not stand up to salute the flag in high school. I didn't agree with the way MY country was run. I'm older now, and though I still carry a heavy stone in my stomach at the thought of the way MY country is run, I know it's not America's fault. I love America, and am a proud American.

But, like every American, I have my opinions and beliefs that oppose those of others. And, as Americans both, we fight to keep close what we hold dear.

Does that make us enemies?

It is our difference from one another, our individual contributions that made this OUR America. There are many different types of hardworking, honest people who live in this nation, more than we can imagine, who love America.

But our nation isn't run by Americans. It's run by politicians. By people who make a career out of politics, instead of the humble will to serve the better good. That may be their selling point, but, for a career politician, things change fast once his butt's in that chair. No one is clean. Democrats, Republicans, left, right, middle.

WE are all we have. We can't fight the way we do among ourselves over our differences while we get mugged by a breed of leeches we have no choice but to empower.

We feel differently about many things, and the idea of everyone thinking alike is unrealistic. Is there a compromise? Can we really do this forever? Can we not let others live as they would, and ourselves as we would? Yes, the world is far too sinister for that naive a concept - but the ones who exploit, provoke, steal, kill, hate and destroy cannot be our loudest voice.

This nation has always been a symbol of unity overcoming adversity. WE are the ones who can not only strengthen our nation, but rekindle the unity that made this nation so prosperous and great. WE can be Americans again.

Mike DeLeo, Blue Bell