Sure, we have faults, but is that a reason to trash our overall record? Can't we confidently say that our way--the American Way--is superior to the real-world alternatives?
Well, yes. Especially given the alternatives. Especially when considering the vast record of oppression, lawlessness and miserable inescapable poverty that has characterized most of human civilization up to, and including, noon today. When compared against some ideal country — say, a solar-powered pan-ethnic secular Switzerland with a socialist economy based on bartering hemp — the messy realities of America past and present come up short.
But this has always been an imperfect nation. Accepting our faults, correcting our wrongs and using the revolutionary founding concepts to improve ourselves further: That's the American way.
Our way of life is worthy of pride. And of defending.
Why can so many of our own citizens not be proud of what we are and what we've done in a highly imperfect world?
