You're not misunderstanding anything at all, you just have a different perspective on the situation, and to be honest, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. We just view things differently.

I personally, would not swap freedom for security, but I only have words because whether we like it or not, that's exactly the system that we all live by. We're all being spied on regardless of how we feel about it, and the fact you weren't shocked by it, just shows exactly where civilisation is today..

I really love the ideals of democracy set out by the founders (barring the odd slave or two, but whatchagonnadoo?), but the America that exists today, is about as far away from that ideal as you could get.

Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness is constantly being affronted by the government, and the government in place at the moment is about as liberal as it gets (they really aren't liberal, but in fact at best a centrist/centre right government).

When governments have powers to do what they like, then that's far more dangerous to the long term well being of the population, than a couple of planes being flown into buildings once in a while.

The dangers we all face by terrorism are minuscule compared to the massive over reach that has taken place ever since. There is no right or wrong on this issue, you've just reached a different conclusion from the same information.

Dying as a free man just seems so much more appealing to me, than living in the materialisation of 1984.