I just came back from a journey abroad. My travels took me to two continents. But it was one question that followed me all through: what happened to America?

Those stuck on the superficial level will tell you that it is Obama that happened to America. Wrong.

What happened to America was deeper and it happened long ago. We are only getting to see the manifestation in the Obama years.

To begin to understand what happened, we have to start by remembering those who founded this country. America was founded by the brave ones who left tyranny behind to create a new nation where freedom shall reign.

Over generations, the genes of these founders have broken down due to tears and wears, succumbing to comfort and the influence of the demon of isolation. It was not clear at first because the gene pool continued to be enhanced by new immigrants who came with the same vigor and similar desire.

But as the world changes, as America meets the world and interacts with the world and becomes the world, America began to lose that which made it America.

What made America America? It is not the right to bear guns as many may think. It is not religious freedom or any of the rights encompassed in the Bill of Rights. What made America America is in America’s ability to be bold in a world that is prone to be timid and conservative.

Something happened to America on its way to the world. It made America rest on its laurels. It made America afraid of daring else it loses its prime spot. It made America afraid of the same world it is supposed to dominate.

It was a gradual weathering of America’s soul. The wreck busted into the open on September 11, 2001 when the wickedness of the world visited the hinterlands of America.

The America that history used to know is not one that waits to be challenged before it outperforms everyone everywhere.

The American that history used to know is not one that wastes all its potentials trying to keep some people down. Even in the days of slavery, America still found a part of itself dedicated to moving forward.

The America that history used to know is not one that grumbles and fidgets over things fundamental to the wellbeing of humankind.

The America that history used to know is usually two hundred years ahead of its time in theory, if not in practice. Its ideals are for all times.

Something happened to America that made its soul shrink so much that it is becoming little, fearful and whiny.

America will break out of this rot when those who lost in their understanding of America’s mandate loose their grip on America and allow it to soar as high as the eagle and get back to its unique place in the sun.

It will happen again.

But first, this civil war will have to be fought and won. It is only in defeat that the naysayers of today will concede.
When ignorance is pumped up as it is, when arrogance is coated with the colors of patriotism and when men’s minds are allowed to shrink as low as they have, nothing can bust its chops other than a war.

The sad thing about wars is that people, often innocent people, die. The good thing is that those who are luck to survive a war end up seeing the folly of it all.

We shall survive the folly of America’s war for its soul. And when it is over, those who said; no, we cannot, will join us in singing with gusto; yes, we can.