" We are not yet living in a banana republic. Here, there are no generals or death squads waiting in the wings to take over should the elected president fail at his task.

But the new United States I've encountered does resemble a country like Guatemala or El Salvador in at least one important respect.

The United States I returned to is a more colorful place than the one I left. And we Americans seem mellowed and slightly more humble."

This was a great article.