You pegged me well, Mr. Tovey.

Submitted by Michel C. Zala (Switzerland), Apr 12, 2011 at 11:24

I can feel your melancholy alright and share it in more ways, than you can imagine.

Becoming an American Citizen, the moment I recited the Pledge Of Allegiance, may well have been the greatest single moment of my life. I love my country and what it stands for, and I share your sentiment, that it has lost its way, which may be one reason, why I felt so strongly about the intervention in Libya.

California is my home state, a place I can paint in my mind, a place I saw literally fall apart during the last 15 years. I saw the American Dream crumble before my very eyes. The nation has become mean, entitled, driven by immediate gratification. Never before thus polarized.

I am no staunch Christian, but I yearn for the values and principles which at one time framed the behavior of the American People and inspired the Founding Fathers.

We have it all, the people, the resources, the abilities, the innovation, the optimism, the exceptionalism, the right system, the right foundation, the morality, the spirituality, all framed by a strong judeo-christian set of principles and values. We used to be the shining beacon welcoming the huddled masses. We had some strong visionary leaders, pointing at a bright future, uniting the people behind them. We went to the moon within 10 years, we led.

Today, we no longer lead, but follow. We no longer act, but contemplate. We no longer have leaders, but an inbred caste of politicians, solely occupied by re-elections. We no longer have sollid platforms, but quick everchanging responses to opinon polls.

Neither with Obama, nor with the current Republican Bench can I ascertain a true leader on the horizon. Another 6 years of Obama? You sure are right, the worst days lay ahead.

I can't believe that the French (!!!!???!!!) just demonstrated to the world, how a despot must be dealt with. Unilaterally, quick, decisive, successful were they able to remove Gbagbo, whereas the mighty NATO looks paralyzed at the Cobra, Gaddafi. It is shameful and indeed nothing but a reflection of the state at home, where they rather discuss union entitlements and further spending.

You were right, I am disenchanted and could no longer identify with this leadership. Obama will go down in history as the weakest president since Carter. Unfortunately by the time this penetrates, the damage will have been done, some of it irreversibly.

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