The greatest nation on earth
I grew up being taught that the United States of America, land that I love, was the greatest nation on earth.
We were #1 because we had freedom and opportunity. We were #1 because America was generally a safe place to live, where people didn't have to worry about access to clean water or reliable food supplies.
We were #1 because our political system had stability in the face of change built right into it: we didn't have to worry about military coups or troops in the streets, because we have a regular, orderly transition of power every four or eight years. We were #1 because in America, every child got a solid education for free, and that made America #1 in economic and technological development.
We were #1 because we had the best hospitals, the best schools, the best democracy. Because we were #1, we made possible the defeat of the Axis powers. Because we were #1, we got to the moon before the Russians, won the Cold War, and watched the Soviet Union collapse from the comfort of our living rooms.
Because we were #1, people all over the world called us the "Land of Opportunity," and dreamed of nothing but coming to the Great American Melting Pot. And because we were #1, we said "Give us your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free."
When I was a kid, I was taught that we were #1 for all those reasons, and more. And you know what? I don't think that was just talk. I really believe it was true.
I loved growing up in that America.
I started this post because of a story I heard on KUOW this morning about how Idaho's school system is broke. I was going to do this whole rant about how sad it is that America cannot afford to fulfill the promised that used to make us #1.
But chances are you've heard about that before, and you don't need me explaining about the value of basic social services yet again.
Instead, I just have questions. What happened? What happened to the America I grew up in? And how can I possibly teach my kids to love this country as much as I do when we can find a trillion dollars to bail out the bankers but we can't even keep our schools open five days a week anymore?
We were #1 because we had freedom and opportunity. We were #1 because America was generally a safe place to live, where people didn't have to worry about access to clean water or reliable food supplies.
We were #1 because our political system had stability in the face of change built right into it: we didn't have to worry about military coups or troops in the streets, because we have a regular, orderly transition of power every four or eight years. We were #1 because in America, every child got a solid education for free, and that made America #1 in economic and technological development.
We were #1 because we had the best hospitals, the best schools, the best democracy. Because we were #1, we made possible the defeat of the Axis powers. Because we were #1, we got to the moon before the Russians, won the Cold War, and watched the Soviet Union collapse from the comfort of our living rooms.
Because we were #1, people all over the world called us the "Land of Opportunity," and dreamed of nothing but coming to the Great American Melting Pot. And because we were #1, we said "Give us your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free."
When I was a kid, I was taught that we were #1 for all those reasons, and more. And you know what? I don't think that was just talk. I really believe it was true.
I loved growing up in that America.
I started this post because of a story I heard on KUOW this morning about how Idaho's school system is broke. I was going to do this whole rant about how sad it is that America cannot afford to fulfill the promised that used to make us #1.
But chances are you've heard about that before, and you don't need me explaining about the value of basic social services yet again.
Instead, I just have questions. What happened? What happened to the America I grew up in? And how can I possibly teach my kids to love this country as much as I do when we can find a trillion dollars to bail out the bankers but we can't even keep our schools open five days a week anymore?
# Posted by Jason Black : 11:52 AM
Comments:
It's one thing to love your country but one must be aware that it is far from perfect. There are a lot of things it's not number 1 in and probably never has been. A myth perpetuated during the health care debate was that we had the best health care system in the world. By many measures this was a myth when compared with other health care systems.
Here are a few other quick examples:
"France, Japan and Australia rated best and the United States worst in new rankings focusing on preventable deaths due to treatable conditions in 19 leading industrialized nations, researchers said on Tuesday."
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN07651650
" British and American children are among the worst off in the industrialized world, according to a U.N. report Wednesday that ranked the two countries at the bottom of 21 wealthy countries in children's well-being....
Britain came in last, only slightly behind the U.S., across the six categories: material well-being, health and safety, education, peer and family relationships, behaviors and risks, and young people's own subjective sense of well-being."
http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2007-02-14-unicef-child-wellbeing_x.htm
It's important to distinguish between myth and fact. America can do a lot better in many areas.
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