"Because in Russia, freedom can go away. Here never."

Would that it were the case.

I am sure that up until the end many Romans felt that the empire would never die. Rome fell. Not because of the barbiarians, but rather from the rot that ate away its core, and left it a hollow shell of the Leviathan which remained unmatched for centuries.

I've never posted here before, but this really touched me. Every time I hear a story like this it makes me proud to be an American. Thank you so much for sharing.

Beautiful, and very moving.

"Because in Russia, freedom can go away. Here never."

Paul is right.

"But I don't like the Party. I think. I think I must vote for best."

A very wise man!

Thanks for posting this.

Great story. I hope all Americans couldhave the same wisdom as Paul. Its my experience that Americans pay lip service to their freedoms because they are not aware of what they enjoy. Having lived overesas for many years I rejoice everyday when I packed in my former job and was able to live in the US. Because every day I can enjoy running water, a choice of news sources, an abundance of choices due to a free market and the freedom to express my opinions without fear. Try doing this overseas. Even Britain has collapsed and is dominated by a PC thinking that is so strong that you can be arrested for thought crime or attempting to defend yourself.

Outstanding story! But you've made us a promise now, and you have to keep it. The subtitle is ConversationS with Paul, so I'm already waiting for the next episode.

Thanks for sharing this. I don't know whether it's true or not but it ought to be.

I assure you it is. And what's more, it is probably true millions of times over. All over. Had a similar experience in New York with a programmer from the Ukraine who worked with me. Fellow by the name of Lev. My barber in Brooklyn Heights, Tanya, (material girl that she was) felt the same way and was not shy about sharing it -- especially with a pair of scissors in her hand. Come to think of it the entire hair salon was part of her brigade.

"Always vote for best!" -- That's a good slogan.

Let us keep in mind that it is indeed possible for us to lose our freedom. Thiscan happen gradually through the "temporary" restrictions on citizens rights and the enlargement of government's role in our lives in the form of "oversight". While people scoff at the aclu litigation over small intrusions into our lives, and the gradual but pernicious ramping up of the judicial system,we should all be alarmed at what this may become in terms of our privacy and individual rights twenty years from now.

Flannelputz:

The ACLU has done some good thru the years, but firemen decorating their home away from home for the holidays is not Congress making a law regarding the establishment of religion, and stopping them from doing so reduces my freedom. Furthermore, any organization which claims to defend the Bill of Rights which won't lift a finger for the Second Amendment is simply bogus.

Nancy's from Ecuador. She, with various of her relatives and employees also from Ecuador, cleans my house wonderfully well. Her husband has worked 2 jobs most of the 15 or so years they've lived here in CT. Nancy is building her first new house. Nancy is spending $700K on that house. She knows what taxes do to her business. She works very hard, expecting to provide for her two kids. Nancy is very smart and loves her new country, but doesn't yet know she's a Republican. Her husband and brother know they are. She'll figure it out.

This is why immigration is so important to the health of this country. It acts, if our laws are enforced and we don't corrupt the prcoess with PC-driven quotas, as a sort of DNA booster shot, adding new and enthused citizens to the country to counteract the rot that seems to afflict those amongst us that take America for granted.

Thanks, that made my day. You do good work.

We live in a 2 party system and the good eggs spouting "I vote for the man" don't get it. There comes a time to grow up and hatch. Voting for the "best" man gets you the whole coalition that backs that party. When you vote for the dem, you get the NEA, ACLU, affirmative action, higher taxes, more regulation, reduced military, wacky liberal judges, partial birth abortion,... The list goes on and on. The dems could run RR and I'd still vote republican.

Hell, I'm voting for McCain.(did I just write that??)

That's a very potent argument, Gerard, and I'm speaking as someone who isn't open to it at all. Well done.

That argument would hold a lot more water if it were true. Of course, it isn't; "best" in this context really means "best of a rotten bunch". And has meant that for a very long time, and not just in the USA. "Rotten" means incompetent, corrupt and/or stupid, and often all three.

"Those who can, do; those who can't, teach; and those who can't teach, enter politics or the law".

Those who would do the job well don't want it. I have heard it said that the best way to get good government is to drag good people kicking and screaming into their offices, and give them time off for good behaviour. I have a great deal of sympathy for that idea.

Obama, because this time communism will free.

"They have too much too long." A lot of wisdom in a few words.

If things really go sour, economically and financially, I wonder what it will do to the younger generation, so many of whom consider it a genuinely grievous injury if they aren't able to text message their friends whenever they want.

Reminds me of a story I once heard about a friend of an acquaintance of mine. Not where where the friend was from, but he was older and could never quite get his arms around the English language. One phrase he know well and would pronounce emphatically was, "I love America!", and apparently it was quite clear that he did love America.

The time came to become a citizen and because of the language problem, he had failed to complete all the requirements. So, there was a hearing, perhaps it was the final hearing -- I don't remember the details. When the judge queried him he smiled and adamantly proclaimed, "I love America!".

The upshot was that the judge granted him his citizenship.