practically, to the fact that our nation was becoming in

the 20th century the most powerful and vital nation in

the world.”
_______________________________________ Soon after his article appeared, the Japanese
SUNDAY MAGAZINE, January 10, 1999 attacked Pearl Harbor and our nation became involved
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
in the war on the both sides of Atlantic. Yet, this great
American had foreseen our destiny amid the darkest
In the Future, America’s Soul will hours of our global engagement during which we were
be Its Most Potent Force forced to defend freedom for others.
Beyond our supremacy of hardware during World
By Patrick Mendis Wars I and II, there emerged a more powerful
Be Our Guest Columnist weapon. It was not the software that guided many of
the weapons used recently in Iraq, Afghanistan, and
W
ill the next millennium be the beginning of an Sudan. The most cost-effective weapon is the
American century? soulware, which is intrinsically human and spiritual.
No, it is not the beginning; it has already begun Our military leaders are the best ones to testify.
before our generation. Dwight Eisenhower and Colin Powell after
experiencing the human cost of hardware and software
In my travels through Asian and Middle Eastern are true believers in developing soulware: the use of
cultures and my current tour in Europe, I have never personal diplomacy and people exchanges to promote
met a single soul who would not like to mutual understanding as instruments of power in
be an American. Despite my foreign defending freedom, fostering democracy, and
origin, they characterize me as an protecting our Constitution.
American by the way I walk, talk, eat,
and laugh. I may be very different from America has the responsibility to make the world
a typical American – no blue jeans, no safer for democracy. The American leadership has the
particular admiration for Madonna, and no obligation to infuse the revolutionary mode necessary
McDonalds, per se. Yet, I am an American to to promote freedom and democracy around the world
perceptive observers. through mutual understanding. In crises in Haiti,
Korea, and Indonesia, America sent our best envoys.
An American in Sri Lanka detected my Mid- America has provided the leadership in Bosnia,
western accent, although he got my home state wrong. Kosovo, Northern Ireland, and the Middle East while
I told him that I am from Minnesota. He made me others failed. We pioneered in creating a family of
nostalgic when he quickly replied: “Oh, Garrison international institutions for global governance.
Keillor’s Lake Woebegone,” where all the men are
good looking, the women are strong, and the children We are not the world policemen, however. But
are above average. I replied: “you beccha, you’re darn we are defending our Constitution, which has no
right.” boundaries because it is a spiritual document in
nature. Here, our military, their families, and
This raised an important question: What is an supporting services play an important role with a great
American? It is neither our physical look nor the sacrifice to defend it. In essence, they are peace
mannerism. Is it then with the infusing of American workers and the best ambassadors. The military has
idealism and the wonder and glory of freedom? Those also created a better world where the idea of diversity
who do not like Americans or have burned our flags and global unity—through interracial and cross-
around the world are still yearning to see the land of national marriages—become a reality. America is a
freedom, for only in America does one become an collage and a rainbow.
American. This does not happen in France, Germany,
Japan or elsewhere. America has a special destiny for It is not the hardware and software that will
the people of world. It is the human spirit that radiates matter the most in the next millennium, but rather the
from the American soul as our motto, E Pluribus human spirit in soulware that is expressed in the
Unum, expresses. Constitution which binds us all. It makes me free and
unique as an American. It is good news for a global
In 1941, Henry Luce wrote an article on the “The century.
First Great American Century” in the February 17
issue of the Life Magazine: “As Americans, we must Patrick Mendis teaches courses in public policy and
accommodate ourselves now, both spiritually and international relations at the University of Maryland
in Europe.