Here is my point: I believe most people who live in the US are able to think for themselves, concerned about politics and concerned about world affairs (albeit with a bias toward world affairs that affect the US). This majority is the non-vocal majority, those who go about their daily business in Small Town, USA without posting on Internet message boards, responding to Guardian articles or doing TV interviews.

The minority of loudmouth right or left wingers give the world a view of the US that I feel is inaccurate.

You say you are ashamed to be an American. I am proud to be an American because of that non-vocal majority of sane, level-headed people that to many people's eyes are invisible. I see those people more often in my town than right or left wing wackos.