Exactly. When I was younger I kind of admired Americans and their ideals and I automatically perceived them as the 'good guys'. I did not want to get American citizenship or anything but I had spent couple of months in the US, I loved it and Americans were my friends - I used to defend them every time someone was critical about the US.
Now I would not even want to visit again. TSA alone would be enough for it not to be worth it.
US is like that kid in school who used to be popular and when he got beat up by that bully, everybody wanted to help him. But after that beating he never recovered and became so paranoid and creepy that even his friends abandoned him and now he himself is a bully and everybody ignores or hates him - if he is going to need help again nobody is going to give a shit.
American Citizens and the US government are not the same thing. While we call ourselves a democracy, the elected officials and legislation they create don't always align with the values of the citizens. It's become a complicated mess but please don't use "America" as a synonym for the US government and their actions. We are all just as upset and betrayed, if not more, than you.
Indeed. I'm American by birth, and definitely love "America" as a people and a set of ideals and a culture... and I mostly abhor the (current) US government as it's practiced. In fact (and NSA, if you're listening, go ahead and take note) it would be quite appropriate to label me about as "anti government" as they get. I think our "leaders" are mostly scum and I don't consider any of them as "representing" me, and especially not my supposed "elected representatives" from North Carolina (Richard Burr, Kay Hagan and David Price). The only members of Congress I really have any respect for are Senators Ron Wyden, Rand Paul, and Mark Udall.
Our system of government started out with nobel ideas and it's served reasonably well for a long-time, but the decay and corruption are really starting to set in. It may also be the case that the divisions in this country are becoming so sharp that it's not even possible to talk about one government that truly represents America as one cohesive whole.
Of course, I still have personal friends who are US citizens and I still think highly of them. I think it's obvious what I meant. And rest assured that I am very aware of the fact that government does not always represent people well - I grew up in a totalitarian regime. But it's also true that they act in your name (especially because you did elect them in democratic elections) and when they do horrible things overseas people might believe that you 'let them', that you did not do enough to stop them... I hope you understand what I mean.
EDIT: I still believe that Americans - the people - have freedom and courage in their blood and some of them will think of something smart and innovative to change the course.
Now I would not even want to visit again. TSA alone would be enough for it not to be worth it.
US is like that kid in school who used to be popular and when he got beat up by that bully, everybody wanted to help him. But after that beating he never recovered and became so paranoid and creepy that even his friends abandoned him and now he himself is a bully and everybody ignores or hates him - if he is going to need help again nobody is going to give a shit.