There are many reasons for America's greatness, whether it be our belief in free markets, limited government, or in the power of the individual. The biggest reason for our greatness however, is our character. There has never been, or never will be, a nation of peoples so committed to doing what is right and good. When evil shows it's ugly face, either at home or abroad, America is the first one there to confront it and defeat it. For it was America that liberated Western-Europe from Nazism and Fascism, that liberated Eastern-Europe and the lower half of the Korean peninsula from Soviet Communism, that is fighting to liberate the Middle East from radicalism. It was America that stopped genocide in Bosnia and Kosovo, and that is dedicating the services of it's military and millions of dollars in private and public funds to tsunami victims. When anyone in the world needs a helping hand, it is America that is there to do what she can.
Though there are many within our borders and without that enviously trash America, it is America that these same cynics turn to in their time of need. Countries such as France and Germany may stab us in the back, even after we saved them for destruction. Yet we just smile and move forward, knowing that if they ever need a helping hand again, America will be there to lend it. That is just our character, our great American character.
You have a point. America is great. No one in the country denies that. There are a lot of things wrong with it though. The biggest problem is that liberals bash it too much and conservatives praise it too much while moderates sit with their thumbs up their asses not knowing how to make a point. I've never met anyone who lives in this country who actually hates it. It's just like every other relationship. No matter how much you love something it can still royally piss you off.
ReplyDeleteI won't start a Bush argument because there is nothing either of us can say to change the other's mind and there is nothing new or 100% true that either of us could bring up. But I will point out one thing interesting. If you look up the definition of fascism, the definition can be used to describe how Bush does not allow people to disagree with him or they are traitors, flip flopers or anti American or silenced completely. He also oppressed the black vote in Texas and Florida in 2000 and there were reports about things similar in Ohio this time around. Both those kinds of things are part of fascism.
I do, however, like the one shout out to Bill Clinton in your conservative point of view with Bosnia and Kosovo.
Finally stumbled across a blog worth reading. Not tonight though, I have to hit the hay. I'll book mark it and come back in the morning.
ReplyDeleteUs conservatives have jobs to go to.
As big as a role as the Soviet Union may have played in winning World War II, no one can deny that if the United States hadn't gotten involved when they did, Hitler would have swallowed up Europe hole. Stalin was begging the U.S. and the allies to open a western front against Hitler. There is no question that America's involvement in the war was the deciding factor in Hitler's defeat.
ReplyDeleteAndy: If you look up the definition of fascism, the definition can be used to describe how Bush does not allow people to disagree with him or they are traitors, flip flopers or anti American or silenced completely.I would like to see a single bit of proof that PRESIDENT Bush has not allowed disagreement, has called anyone a traitor, has unjustly called anyone a flip-flopper (Sen. Kerry is fair game as his record proves the case), unjustly called anyone anti-American, or "silenced" anyone.
ReplyDeleteHe also oppressed the black vote in Texas and Florida in 2000 and there were reports about things similar in Ohio this time around.Proof please. Reports are not evidence. Accusations are not proof. If you cannot provide proof, then such a claim is spurious at best.
Midlifefloater: It was, in his view, the Soviet Union.In fact, the Soviet Union was all but defeated by Nazi Germany when the U.S. entered the fray and distracted Hitler on the western front.
Surely questions of who is the 'greatest' country in the world are fundamentally adolescent but no American president seems immune from the need to stand up and make this puerile assertion.No world leader does. This is not an American vice, just one of politicians in general.
But please don't mythologise away the genocide that you have been involved in with your own native peopleBased on the definition of genocide that the U.N. has applied to the Darfur region (and other parts of the world), there was no genocide of our "native people". BTW, I'm part Apache and Cherokee.
the enslavery of a race of people from the African continent which also forms such a strong part of your history.Though I usually don't take the "moral equivalancy" route, I will this time. Slavery of blacks was a behavior that the U.S. inherited from it's parent country, England. And it was, by no means, limited to England. And let's not forget the slavery of the Jews by the Egyptians and other peoples.
Slavery is something that almost every country in the world has gone through. Most, thankfully, have seen the error of their ways. None have done so as quickly as the U.S., nor have any gone so far as America in making "reparations" for those bad acts.
Geoff: You are absolutely correct in your assessment of the reason for the U.S.'s greatness. Though we have gone through tough times, and undoubtably will again, we continue to improve ourselves and help those in need.
Keep up the good work and blog on.
I appreciate the encouragement, and keep that feedback coming!
ReplyDeleteAnytime, Chief. Didn't think you'd get much from an over the hill trucker, didya?!?! :-P
ReplyDeleteI'll take an over the hill trucker before I take one of these liberal "intellectuals" who, despite their Ph.D's and doctorates, don't seem to have a shred of common sense.
ReplyDelete