One of the last works which James Michener published was The Noble Land: My Vision for America. During his long and distinguished writing career Mr. Michener had researched voluminous materials to describe the rise and fall of many civilizations as the settings for his novels. As Michener wrote about America, his homeland, he did so with thanksgiving and appreciation. Gratefully he acknowledged that America had treated him well. However, he observed that there has been considerable slippage in America’s cultural values. In spite of the fact that our American method of governing ourselves is the most enduring form of government in human history, Mr. Michener believed that twilight may set in for this nation about the year 2050. The elderly Michener expressed his wish that he could be here t…