SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.--Following trips to different countries over many years, I have longed to return home and hear these words from an immigration officer: "Welcome back to the United States."

Something felt different this time. After three weeks away--two days in Doha and the rest in Vietnam, Hong Kong and Beijing--while I was glad to return home, I noticed a contrast I had not noticed before. We have become a dirtier country. I am not talking about smut or vulgar language, but real dirt.

Stepping off the plane in San Francisco, I noticed the jetway carpet was stained. "Welcome to California" a sign read. A double meaning, perhaps.

Public toilets are dirty. I saw toilet tissue on the floor, overflowing paper towel bins, water pooling on basin counters and puddles of a liquid I shall not further describe. Some toilets remained unflushed.

Terminal floors are scarred and there seems to be a different atmosphere from what I........

© Arkansas Online