Is America good?

Our nations is, as the pundits constantly remind us, deeply divided. Racial tensions are at levels not seen since the 1960s. We endured a summer of rioting in several of our largest cities. Close to 40 percent of Americans believe that the results of the 2020 presidential election are illegitimate.

In some places in the United States if you are among that 40 percent and you express that sincerely held belief, you risk anything from public shaming to the loss of your livelihood.

If you are a college student and you let slip that you or your parents supported Donald Trump, you face consequences running the gamut from grade retaliation by professors all the way to being run off the campus.

If you’re a small business owner and you express your belief in conservative policy, you could find yourself set upon by a pack of social media hyenas seeking to ruin your business and your reputation.

To a disquieting degree, we are at each other’s throats.

A lot of people would have you believe that it’s all Donald Trump’s fault. I say nonsense. It’s much deeper than that.

The fundamental divide lies in one’s answer to this question:

Is America a great country?

Most on the right believe that it is. A loud and growing cohort on the left believes that it isn’t. Many among the intelligentsia – who control the commanding heights of academia, entertainment, media and much of government – believe that the United States is irredeemably guilty of original sin. They believe that because this country was founded by white men – a number of whom owned slaves – and because legalized racial discrimination persisted into the 20th century, the country is fatally flawed, and its foundational documents are illegitimate.

Never mind that everything connected to the human species is flawed. That includes nations. The greatest men and women in history were all flawed – some greatly so. As just one example, we know that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a plagiarist and a philanderer. But it’s his net contribution to the world that gives him his honored place in the American pantheon.

So it is for the United States. When America’s virtues and America’s sins are placed in their respective places on the scale, the scale tips heavily toward virtue.

It was Alexis de Tocqueville who said, “America is great because America is good.” Americans are astonishingly generous. It was America that turned philanthropy into an industry. That generosity flows from the economic success born of the free-market capitalism that America established and much of the world emulated.

With full acknowledgement of the sin of slavery – which was not an American invention – it remains true that because the United States was established – however imperfectly – in liberty and freedom, it has freed more people from bondage and lifted more people out of poverty than any other society in history.

At one time that fact was celebrated. Now it’s disputed. Until that dispute is settled, and irrespective of who wins elections, we’re in for a rough go.

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Paul Gleiser

Paul L. Gleiser is president of ATW Media, LLC, licensee of radio stations KTBB 97.5 FM/AM600, 92.1 The TEAM FM in Tyler-Longview, Texas.

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5 Responses

  1. Jim Lee says:

    Another good one Mr. G. Keep up the good work. America needs more patriots like you.

  2. Richard Anderson says:

    I believe, as do you, that America IS GOOD!! And always has been since our very Founding on July 4, 1776 with The Declaration of Independence.

    In the Preamble of The Constitution, near the beginning appear the words.. “in Order to form a more perfect Union” made clear that our Founders had in mind a mechanism of government unlike any other ever formed in the history of mankind. A mechanism to allow for positive improvement.

    A desire to always strive to make our young nation since day one, better with each day going forward, wherever there were imperfections, as man is inherently flawed, that “We The People” working together in positive fashion could make our great nation “more perfect.” That is the miracle of The United States of America, a nation blessed by GOD — that GOD is our Foundation and the Rock of “We The People.” That is Who must never be lost.

    Sadly, today, there are those “bad voices*” *i.e. the groups Antifa / Black Live Matter, et. al., whose only ideology is error, anti-God, and anti-America, as they espouse socialist/Marxist/communism and thus are the ENEMY of our Constitution, our County, and We The People. Everything these two groups and others like them espouse must be REJECTED as they are haters of our blessed nation America as Founded under GOD.

    Lies cannot stand the light of Truth. Let this be known, GOOD always triumphs over EVIL.

    God bless America and Let Freedom Ring!

  3. Michael Reagan says:

    Whether many of us believe it is good or not the Left is about to anaconda the Right into strangulation. Just read in Tyler Morning Telegraph, Fox Business immediately cancelled Lou Dobbs due to his belief in a “rigged election” and other conspiratorial view.

    Is America Good? I suppose we need to define what exactly is America now. It is fractured, bleeding, and on life support. Who will be the First Responders to get Her to the ER to save Her?

    Truly the winners write history in this case. Those who believe America is good better get off their arses and make sure it really is; by winning.

  4. Michael Reagan says:

    Where is everyone? Not sure what to make of the lack of commentary. Are we to the point of being so jaded nothing matters? Or are we simply burned out over nonsense politics that are consuming our society?

    • C M Solomon says:

      Michael, you raise a good point. Be assured that delayed is not forgotten. I am still trying to keep up with fast moving current events that almost leave me speechless. I have wanted to finish some earlier evidence I compiled on the Communist influence throughout our very sick culture by the subversive activities of the Left that have NOW shown its bold and ugly head with the last, highly questionable, election. I take my comments very seriously and try to be professional about it. It takes a lot of time to do a good job – – – it doesn’t come naturally to me. That is why I can’t seem to finish what I started, however it will be soon.

      I love Paul’s blog and enjoy the mental exercise it provides to justify the Conservative way of life. We are under threat of a tyrannical rule never experienced in America’s history and we must stand for the Truth or be swallowed by those who are determined to eradicate all of us and the American values that we so highly cherish. Hopefully our comments here can help spread the message and keep our faith alive.

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