There was a time that being American gave tremendous privilege and a secure way of life. But, America has changed over the past decades and in many ways it has changed for the worse. Like so many others, I worry that we have not seen the bottom of the spiral, and I have to wonder, am I witnessing the death of America?

In the time of Thucydides, Greeks ruled. Once the power of Rome stretched throughout the known world. And, at one time, "the sun never set on Great Britain". Times change: Greece is no longer a world force. Rome is now nothing but a city; Great Britain has been absorbed by the European Union. Great powers fall over time.

My parents lived a confident life. Superpower citizenship gave them inherent wealth, privileges and opportunities. Being American afforded them a certain security when they traveled, and it meant they were welcomed in most countries of the world. The future looked bright, and they had the luxury of feeling secure within our borders.

Contrast this with the travel advice my generation is given: "when traveling overseas take great care NOT to identify yourself as an American. Ensure you do not attach anything identifiable to your suitcases (such as American flags.)" Now, an unsettlingly large percentage of the world hates us. And at any given moment, there are groups of people plotting ways to kill us at home and abroad, just for the sin of being born in America.

I have always considered myself highly patriotic.  I am a military wife of more than a decade.  Our family has made tremendous personal sacrifices out of patriotic duty.  I am also prior enlisted myself, having personally served a tour in the military.  And, I have engaged in countless arguments with foreign-born friends defending America's honor.

But... America is changing, and I am not fond of the America that stands before me today. American ideals were once celebrated throughout the world. Now it seems we are hated by those same people that once adored us. We are involved in wars that we cannot win, wars that cost trillions of dollars when our country's economy has fallen to the worst state since the Great Depression. Millions of Americans are facing foreclosure and the unemployment rate is at a record high.

What happened to the country I loved? The health care system is broken, with no solution in sight. Identity theft and people who make a business of scamming others seem to be everywhere. Everytime I turn on the TV, I see a report of teen violence, or school/workplace shootings, or another murder.

Racial tension is still rearing it's ugly head. Ten years ago I remember commenting to a friend,

"My grandmother was raised in a time where America was segregated; my mother lived through the time of civil rights and black people being relegated to the back of the bus. I have lived through the time of Affirmative Action. But, to my children, none of this will matter. Each generation comes closer to equality, and my children's generation will be the first to be colorless. Playing with children of all races in the school-yard, they will truly see all colors as equal."

I couldn't have been more wrong. We may have our first black president, but has it really changed? Our entire country stopped last week over racial tension when a black professor was arrested by a white police officer. The tension over Mexican immigration has hit dangerous proportions, with border violence becoming epidemic.

Let me also point out how American's values are skewed. During the same weekend that America was up in arms about the black professor being arrested, several American soldiers were killed overseas defending your freedom. I bet you don't know their names, but I will give you 2 to 1 that you can name that professor....

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This article was originally featured on RioDancesOnTheSand.com, a blog for the thinking person... Written by Rio Denali, a 30-something with peculiar curiosities, who makes the observations that many of us avoid. Full of useful links and entertaining articles, it is a fun favorite for the intelligent reader. For more great articles like this, please visit RioDancesOnTheSand.com.