Recently, I sat down with a few of my “cigar friends” for another round in that never-ending conversation of “How to save the world.”
Though we were successful, as usual, in solving many of the world’s problems, it seems that no one is in charge in getting the memo out in time. The world remains in its present condition, unaware of our solutions.
On this particular day, the question raised was: Is America a great nation? It is an interesting question in that America went from a fledgling nation based on a notion of equality in the late 18th century, gaining its independence against the world’s most formidable army by winning a war of attrition, and ultimately fast-tracking its way to superpower status in record time.
No other nation can lay a claim that rivals the American narrative. But does that constitute greatness?
“Great” can be a subjective term. Our question of the day was followed up with more specificity: Why is America a great nation? This created more diverse thought.
There were the predictable answers, such as freedom and opportunity. When examining the American story, it’s hard not to argue this is truly a hallmark of America.
But given that the freedom and opportunity have not been doled out equally, in some cased systematically denied, does this alone denote greatness?
Others made the argument that three times America saved the world from tyranny. While I understand that argument, it was not as if the United States had to go it alone in World War I, World War II and the Cold War.
Some suggested that America’s greatness lies in that it is first in spreading freedom and democracy globally, and no other nation comes close in vying for second place.
True, but through the dispassionate historical lens, America’s overall record of spreading freedom and democracy is hardly a stellar one.
It was also mentioned that America does not use its power for conquest. But that would depend on how “conquest” is defined, and a close examination of American methodology reveals a track record that is less than desirable.
Realpolik dictated that American interests back the wrong horse, or a brutal dictator, on numerous occasions during the height of Cold War fervor.
A few in my group offered that America’s economy and innovation are unsurpassed in human history. This is also true.
I would imagine that any of the aforementioned responses could justify as examples of American greatness. But are military might, economic prowess or perceived diplomatic benevolence the metrics for greatness?
The challenge arises when greatness is transmuted into perfection. If this is done, America quickly becomes an unrealistic nation, based on an unhealthy reliance of a false narrative.
It is through the false narrative that one becomes an apologist, able to see only America’s high points, while justifying its low moments with needless qualifiers. But the two are intertwined.
America’s march toward a more perfect union is inextricably linked to the forced immigration policy that nearly tore the nation asunder.
Thomas Jefferson believed that westward expansion was key to the nation’s health. But the systematic brutality inflicted upon Native Americans is also part of the westward expansion story.
There can be no meaningful discussion about the “Greatest Generation” that ignores Japanese internment.
The 19th Amendment guaranteeing women the right to vote received needed momentum from the passage of the 14th Amendment, which provided equal protection under the law, and the 15th Amendment, which extended voting rights to Negro males.
Ironically, the importance of Martin Luther King and the civil rights movement could have never been realized without ratification of the Constitution, which originally allowed the institution of slavery.
Does any of this confer greatness?
What is undeniable is progress.
It is a progress that most likely moves slower that those who sought it, but once agitated it methodically plodded until it reached the requisite momentum.
There are many things about America that I would like to see changed. The high bar that it set for itself by making equality central to its project is an ongoing challenge.
Maybe the best we can hope are the sage words of Winston Churchill: “You can always count on Americans to do the right thing — after they’ve tried everything else.”
The Rev. Byron Williams, a writer and the host of the “The Public Morality” on WSNC 90.5, lives in Winston-Salem.
Resource: http://www.journalnow.com/opinion/columnists/byron-williams-cigars-friends-and-american-progress/article_291cb935-a49f-50eb-bf68-90a2fb0af4a7.html
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