Our civil rights are trampled on a daily basis all in the name of security. I hope that President Obama steps up and gives us back some of those rights. As to the economy, I think it is going to take some time to recover and the government will not be able to do much (other than exorbitant bailouts) for now. As to having a secure nation, I don't think this is truly possible. If someone is bound and determined to do harm and, more importantly, willing to die to accomplish this, the harm will be done.

In the meantime, I thank Mr. Ebert for a truly eloquent column. I hope and pray he is right and that President Obama will continue to be an adult, have good advisors that he will listen to and that this nation recovers some of its status and pride.