Those of my generation grew up hearing the phrase:
“Truth, Justice and The American Way“
It was a pledge to lead the world in morality and justice for all.
Even the expats, like myself, rather disenchanted in today’s America certainly expected to see the American President among the world leaders at the anti-terrorism rally in France. With Obama’s above average physical height, he would have certainly ended up in the center, so the photos would look well-balanced. But not only didn’t Obama bother showing up, he didn’t even send any important figure from his administration, not his Vice President, nor his Secretary of State or even his wife.
The 21st Century United States of America isn’t the country I once knew. It seems like all the old value systems have gone kaput. There was a time, not all that long ago, when the American President would drop all plans and rush to show his horror at such brutal terrorism. Even if the only real reason he’d be going would to show that America condemns terrorism and cares about freedom and justice more than any other country.
It’s clear that the United States is no longer a world leader fighting for truth and justice. The American way is back to the pre-World War II isolationism.