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America's greatness: Is it in question? Wednesday, May 7, 2008 by David Sanders There are, for different reasons, individuals, both from the political right and left, who are plagued by a built-in proclivity for predicting the end of America's exceptional position as the world's only superpower. Those on the right often fear the dilution of national sovereignty, culture and values by internal and external forces, who are acting to weaken the country, placing it on the unavoidable course on which the Pax Americana will ultimately go the way of the Pax Romana. For those on the left, American decline is inevitable, because, by their estimation, the country has only achieved what others would label greatness by economic, political and social exploitation; therefore, the country is deserving of losing its place of influence in the world order. While I don't write off the merits of all their arguments, I disagree with both estimations, not only in substance, but in tone. Since its founding, America has faced significant economic, political and moral challenges. Our historic distinctions do not come from simply existing for 232 years, but rather American exceptionalism has been hewn by individuals and groups of people who persevere and prosper when faced with tests. It is no surprise that the U.S. faces challenges both at home and abroad, which could undermine its position in the world. In Newsweek's most recent edition, its cover story is an excerpt from Fareed Zakaria's book "The Post-American World." He develops a premise that the U.S. has not fallen, but that there are new global players who have ascended both economically and politically to challenge the U.S.'s dominant position. The rise of China, India, Russia and Brazil, along with the niche specialties that have developed in other countries, such as London's booming financial sector, underscore what the U.S. faces in the newly competitive global economic environment. Geopolitically speaking, the world is more complicated than it was 20 years ago: The rise of militant Islam and the persistence of unrest in the Middle East, the region that controls a majority of the world's oil reserves, along with the rise of new "power centers," only complicate the U.S. position because, as he believes, our allies will act more internationally. Zakaria doesn't count the U.S. out; in fact, he has an enduring confidence the country's ability to adapt. However, he lacks faith in the country's political leadership to meet the new challenges needed to play in the global system the U.S. helped create. To the extent that Zakaria is overly cautious and reticent about the U.S.'s position in the world, Elon Musk, the South African immigrant and co-founder of Pay Pal, the Internet commerce giant that has revolutionized online buying and selling, is not. When interviewed last December by Ben Wattenberg on the PBS program Think Tank, Musk, who said he came to the U.S. as soon as he could, articulated a stunning argument for America's greatness: "The United States is the greatest country that's ever existed on earth. And I think that it will be difficult to argue on objective grounds that it is not. I think the facts really point in that direction. It's the greatest force for good of any country that's ever been." He believes to his core that unlike any other country America is the place that allows free people to do great things. Remember, it's easy to give in to the doom and gloom; it takes work to be optimistic. ------- David Sanders writes twice weekly for the Arkansas News Bureau in Little Rock and is a host of the Arkansas Education Television Network's "Unconventional Wisdom." His e-mail address is DavidJSanders@aol.com. |
