I don’t know about you, but I have vivid memories of being in school and learning about this great country of ours. We were the leaders. We were the best. And we have the arrogance to go with it.

But along the way, it began to feel like, while the arrogance was still there, we were losing ground in our leadership position.

I remember the first time I traveled outside of the country. I was 24. I remember how excited people were when I said I was an American. They wanted to know everything they could possibly know about what it was like to live in such a great country.

But the next time? It was while the second Bush was in office and people began to blame me for what was happening in the world. As if little old me were responsible for it all by myself.

And this past April it was even worse. No longer do people from other parts of the world want to be like us. No longer is it exciting to be America. In fact, the more you can blend into the country you’re visiting, the better. (more…)