Does the idea of American still resonate?

Elvis died last month. Well, thirty years ago anyway. Reading up about the period it's obvious that America was a different place back when he was rocking. Ralph Malph and Potsie were making us laugh, the Cleveland Browns were relevant and kitsch was so in.

A friend just came back from Europe recently - Italy to be specific. The one thing he said was - he may have murmured other things but I don't listen all that well - how Italians weren't as enamoured with American culture as they once were. Italy has always been pro-American for the most part. They're also pro-European Union. Anything so long as it drowns Italy the joke goes.

I think the attraction goes both ways. Ever notice how stores here like to Italianize their names? In Italy the reverse is true - they Americanize them.

Is the loss for lust of all things American among Italians a barometer of how bad things are? Imagine other countries?

It got me thinking. Once long ago, America was a beacon to the world - especially Western culture. The West needed some picking up following the decimation of its civilization during two mad world wars. America - and to a lesser extent Canada (America Jr. as Homer Simpson once called her) - was there.

America won hearts by the soft intoxicating power of its culture. You know, baseball, rock'n roll apple pies, Hot Rods and all that jazz. It captivated the world not with just its sports, music and film but politics as well. FDR, Ike and Kennedy were extremely popular abroad. It was all so - well, cool.

Could you imagine how much hope and sheer energy Chuck Berry, Bill Haley and the Comets and Elvis Presley brought to Europe? Especially those under communist regimes.

Today, everyone seems down on America. Europeans now look to themselves as they too question American leadership - though no one really believes - let alone fathom - for one second the world can do without the United States.

We don't have a monopoly on their souls anymore. We shouldn't mourn. Wasn't that part of the plan under the Monroe Doctrine? To rebuild the Europe aesthetically and spiritually? America did its part during Europe's darkest moment. Maybe they are living off this legend who knows?

Now it is America that is on a soul searching mission. Who will help Americnas in their time of need?

Who will play the part of an international Elvis Presley to lift their spirits?

Hail, hail rock'n roll?