When did the United States lose its innocence?
605044
Long before any of those.  Check out what Mark Twain wrote about the US action in Cuba and the Philippines, way back in 1901.  Or Washington Irving on the treatment of the Native Americans.  It's been going on a long time.  (And no, I'm not saying that we Europeans are any better.)
1010889
I basically asked the same question.....well, sort of, about the US. \n\nPeople HAVE become lethargic.
915319
The right to be innocent till proven guilty\n\nOR \n\nthe freedom of speach
77387
OH MY GOD!!! Some one that see's the light. Thank god.  We don't have many rights left anymore.  the whole war is a hoax to make the US into a Marshall law state and take over the world as a global goverment.  No one wants to admitt it. Hell, a lot of people don't see it.  As long as they got American Idol on tv there ok.
860688
There is little outrage due to the big lie.  Whatever the case,you can bet we are misinformed.  We follow our leader's story, trusting them to tell us the truth, a big mistake, and then back him up at crunch time. Fascism thrives on ignorance, complacency,  and trust, until it is too late to change course.  Iraq is a good example.  We were worked up because of 9/11, we wanted justice for the attack, so we went into Afghanistan.  Somehow we also ended up in Iraq!  The big boys who run things, sip on their Napoleon Brandy and  cigars, while the rest of us are always trying to catch up.  It is always too late if we do,  after the violence has been done.  Then we are left to offer lame arguments for why it was all such a good idea in the first place.
945421
The USA cared about the people of Iraq and got rid of their dictator.  Look where it got us as far as international opinion is concerned.
1169298
In the world community? Not really, and it is hard not to blame them. Lets face facts, the last time a large country basically took over a smaller country based on propaganda lies was Germany in 1938 when they invaded Poland. Anybody want to debate whether Germany was the Bad guy then? Well, the world sees us as the bad guy now and they are not wrong. The truly sad thing is that troops are not the bad guys, the Bush Administration is. But it is the innocent that always does the dying and the Bush guys just keep on lying.
634051
True.  Our government lied to us about why we were going in, and like sheeps to slaughter we believed it.  Now that we are there we can't just pull out and let whoever can grab the most power the quickest take over.  I for one apologize to those who lost loved ones because our president is a warmongering moron but can't support a full pullout of troops until the Iraqi people have a firm hold on their country (i.e. government is stable and not under dictatorship).  And no there is no honesty in the U.S. government.  We gave them power and they took it and have used it without us REALLY keeping up with what they are doing.  Absolute power corrupts absolutely.
1046843
2000, when the Supreme Court decided that a fair and accurate recount must be stopped. Read the dissents in that case (see link below).\n\nAnd I think Mr.Danger's title is more accurate, though I prefer "Commander in Sheik". Captures the flavor better.\n\nYou've hit the real problem though. Hypocrisy. This administration would never tolerate another country doing what they claim is justified. \n\nRegardless of whether we like North Korea or Iran or not, if Germany or England or Brazil tried to tell the US that it could not engage in particular research or test weapons in international waters, the US would tell them to go bleep themselves. And then defend their rights with force.\n\nAnd every other country that has invaded another sovereign nation because they didn't like the way things were being handled has been denounced as tyrants. But it's alright for the US to do it?\n\nAnd the US denounces other countries (well, they used to last decade) for torturing people or violating civil rights. But the current administration can ignore not only its own Constitution but many international treaties (signed and ratified), because it feels like it?\n\nHypocrisy has always bothered me. And the current US administration is the best case for why in at least the last century.
890477
i think the u.s would object to anyone being brought to trail on that matter.the guilty don't like the truth comeing out!!
971461
It wasn't. The USSR lied about having missles in Cuba aimed at the  United States. We found out about it from spy photos and told the Russians to remove them or we'd nuke them until they glowed.\n\nThey blinked first and removed the missles.
726329
Quick Fact: The USA is a Constitution-based Federal Republic.\n\nI believe that a government should (almost) never manipulate the truth, unless the lives of millions are at stake.  Then I don't want to know till it's over.  If you manipulate the truth, which IS lying, no matter what the government tells themselves, you have the possibility of losing the trust of those who gave you the job, if they find out.\n\nIf you lead a country well, and have the trust of the nation, if you make a mistake, you need to own up to it.  If it was a well-intended mistake, the people might forgive you (either immediately or over time), or they may choose to remove you.  On the other hand, if you lie to the people, and you get caught, chances are you'll get punished.\n\nNot only would you get punished, and loose any trust you've gained from the people, but you may cause a ripple effect in which the people generally become distrustful of their current elected government.  This can span from a party loosing an election, to a drop of active voters, all the way to a government overthrow.  When you're in such a powerful condition, anything you do can cause a ripple effect.\n\nAnd of course, in my use of the directional word "you", I would be referring to any President or Congressman, or any other elected official who finds themselves in this predicament.
1009635
If you live in the United States, you are innocent until proved guilty. Don't let anyone tell you differently, especially the local detectives and cops. Even with the recent transfer of legislative power to the federal executive branch via the USA PATRIOT Act, you still have to be found guilty in a court of law. No court that abides by the U.S. constitution will expect you to prove your innocence.
348572
Guilty untill proven innocent is now the way of this country. It is sad too. Many individuals can't even get a fair trial because so many believe if you get arrested then that means you are guilty. \n\nHowever, we still have a much better legal system than many other countries. We still have rights when we are arrested or even before we are arrested that many others around the world do not have. There are still many places is the world where you can be taken out of your home without an arrest warrent or any proof you did anything wrong. \n\nI would much rather be in the country, even with the "innocent untill proven guilty" turned upside down to "guilty till proven innocent', than living elsewhere in the world.\n\nWe may not have a perfect legal system, but at least we still have many rights others do not have. Plus, there is no such thing as a perfect legal system. \n\nLegal systems do the best they can. Those upholding and/or working within them are people just like you and me. They are therefor not perfect and can and do make mistakes. Is that sad and awfull when a persons liberty is at stake? Yes it is. \n\nBut, I would still rather, by a large margin, to live here with the legal climate we currently have, than anywhere else.
132459
Yes, not only the backbone, Americas has lost its upper chamber also. They have supported unjust war of Bush in Iraq & Afganistan, killing US Troops & innocent people of Iraq & Afganistan. They have again elected that war monger for the second term, who tells lies to justify his all wrong doings everytime. His every move risks the security of Us and its people.\nHe has already endangered the world peace. Americans are being more insecure only because of arrogant & monstrous thinking & misleading decisions of George Bush. \nAmericans have lost their mind, values & intelectuality to assess GB as the Us president.
1105779
america got their asses handed to them
492830
Unfortunately, we are losing our freedoms and we don't seem to care or are too ignorant to see that fact (as evidenced by some of the earlier responses).  There have always been attempts to make inroads into our civil liberties (guaranteed to us by the Constitution of the United States), but at least during most of those times past those attempts were veiled.  Now, there is absolutely no attempt to cover the erosion of American freedoms.  What's scary is the fact that the majority of Americans don't seem to be paying attention and the majority of the ones who are paying attention don't care.  We point a finger of shame at other countries that deny these rights to their people and then we turn around and remain silent while our government does the self same thing.  Yes, these things are not done to the same degree in most cases, but you have to realize that erosion's of freedom ALWAYS start small.  Saddam Hussein didn't start where he finished.  Do I think that the United States will ever get that far? Of course not.  But, we have already come so much farther than our Founding Fathers wanted to go.  Even worse than all of this is the fact that the few people who see what is happening and are speaking out about it are IMMEDIATELY and FALSELY labeled as terrorist.  Terrorism/McCarthyism; same thing different generations.