YOUNG American women AFRAID to voice their opinion

There was recent article in AMCostaRica.com about ‘Three U.S. nursing students were among those protesting.’ Written by Noel Dekking which said that

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Questioning the intentions of their homeland, three U.S. citizens could be found marching with free trade treaty opponents in San José Monday. Most foreigners opted for taking pictures from the sidelines, but Amanda Heffernan, Jackie O’Leary and Alexis Dassler had strong enough thoughts and opinions against the Central American Free Trade Agreement that they joined in the fight and waved protest signs.

All three are nursing students working in the Costa Rican capital. Ms. Hefferman said that they are worried that the free trade agreement will ruin the nation’s social health care system, and that people will be forced to pay higher prices for U.S. medicine instead of lower prices for generic brands.

The Seattle, Washington, natives were all concerned about having their photos taken and a little cautious talking about the issues. One friend opted out of the shot. Ms. Hefferman said that a lot of the people they work with in the hospitals are also worried about what will happen to the Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social if the treaty passes.

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I would like to know what people think (especiually fellow Americans) about the first sentence in that last paragraph?

Seems to me that these YOUNG American women are AFRAID to voice their opinions about the Free Trade Agreement. One was so afraid, she opted out of having her photograph taken alongside her friends.

How do we feel about that?