My thoughts on the question: What makes/made America great? In short, the founding ideals of the 1776 Declaration. The genius of our Constitution and the unique framework of American Federalism. THESE we are now BETRAYING. It has NOTHING to do with life expectancy statistics or math scores or winning WW2 (and Cold War) or being the richest country on earth, etc. CAUTION: This video is a bit raw and it has arguably a left progressive bias, yet I do share the disgust for the kind of cheap patriotism (nationalism, the impostures of pretended patriotism) that should be reserved only for sports teams (and primitive tribalism) In offering to you, my countrymen, these counsels of an old and affectionate friend, I dare not hope they will make the strong and lasting impression I could wish; that they will control the usual current of the passions, or prevent our nation from running the course, which has hitherto marked the destiny of nations. But, if I may even flatter myself, that they may be productive of some partial benefit, some occasional good; that they may now and then recur to moderate the fury of party spirit, to warn against the mischiefs of foreign intrigue, to guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism; this hope will be a full recompense for the solicitude for your welfare, by which they have been dictated. George Washington, Farewell Address (1796) [There was a time when every school child would have been familiar with Washingtons counsels in his farewell address. Is there anyone left who was actually taught this speech as part of their public education? I was not.]
Posted on: Mon, 10 Nov 2014 06:44:35 +0000
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