America, still the Beautiful

by Senator Brent Hill

This campaign season has given us plenty to complain about. Every direction we turn we hear how terrible America is for its tolerance of illegal aliens, its ineptitude in the war against terror, and its disregard for global warming. Barack Obama says everywhere he goes people are losing their jobs--jobs that weren’t much good anyway since American employers withhold health care and pension benefits. His pastor, Jeremiah Wright, uses inflammatory rhetoric to assert that the United States brought on the 9/11 attacks with its own practice of terrorism. Hillary Clinton demeans the administration for being too soft on Iran and too hard on Iraq. The dismal reports come not only from the left. Presidential Candidate Ron Paul criticizes Abraham Lincoln for the “senseless Civil War” to end slavery and condemns the current war against terror.

One might conclude from these news reports that America is the most impoverished, corrupt, and dim-witted country in the world. Quite frankly, I’m tired of such conclusions.

Of course, any candidate calling for change must accentuate the failures of our current government. But, as Americans, we need to weigh the failures of some people and programs against the extraordinary political, economic, and social achievements of this nation. Amid all we hear about what’s wrong with this country, let me point out just a few things that are right about America:

America has the best system of higher education in the world. Students come from every other country on earth to study in our universities.

Our free enterprise system has produced the most innovative and entrepreneurial nation in the world.

Compared to other developed countries, our citizens face lower taxes and less government regulation.

The average “poor” American family lives in a bigger house or apartment than the average of all families in Western Europe; eats more meat, owns more cars, and enjoys more indoor plumbing than the average family in Europe or Japan.  

America has the greatest form of government ever instituted upon the earth—a government presided over by the most powerful administrative instrument ever formed by the hand of man and the inspiration of God: the Constitution of the United States.

Although we have dealt with corrupt politicians and failed programs, this country possesses a resilience that continues to raise her above the corruption to greater success.

During this political season we will be reminded that there is much to grumble about and, certainly, we have a great deal of progress yet to make. But, even with our flaws and blemishes, we are a blessed nation. With leaders and citizens committed to upholding the principles of liberty and justice, America is indeed beautiful.

America! America!
God mend thine ev'ry flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law.

                                       --Katherine Lee Bates