Many Americans believe - implicitly or explicitly - that their country is specially blessed by God to always be the best, the most powerful, and the most important. No matter what happens, they will always (eventually) come out on top.

But as much as there is to admire about the U.S., I don't agree. European countries have shed the devestation of WW II and communism, Asian countries have modernized, and it may be that the U.S. is slowly becoming Just Another Country.

European and Asian countries received a lot of aid from the U.S. in their recovery. What have other countries done for the U.S???

There has been no other country like the U.S. ever. And it was not created by God, but by men who believed in God.

Americans are justifiably proud of their nation, after all, what other nation would put up with all the dirty smelly leftoids complaining about how terrible the US is but refuse to leave for greener pastures.

Patriotic Americans talk the talk but also walk the walk. And remember who is first in when disaster strikes?

To understand a bit about the United States of America - a very important bit - I recommend reading - carefully - "How the Scots Invented the Modern World" by Arthur Herman

I recommend the book " Born Fighting " written by James Webb, Democratic Senator(Blue Dog) from the State of Virginia. Easy to read, entertaining and informative.

I still can't figure out the difference between Emo and Goth.

I am with you Texas Canuck. I have met lots of ballsy Americans.

Fat but ballsy.

That doesn't sound good at all.

However, I do mean it as a compliment.

there ain't a night i go to bed without thanking my lucky stars the USA exists.........and nor should any european or asian....those fine fun loving generous creative idealistic philosophical practical people are all that stands between this world and utter chaos.

As an American I'd just as soon some other great country or countries would take over what we've come to think of as our duties. I'd be happy to only kick the asses of those who'd think to come here and cause problems. Screw other places in the world. Europe, China, Russia, and half of Canada. You take the baton and run with it. Let's see how you'd do it and how well your rhetoric translates into real, visible 'improvement'. Really. Yes, I mean really do it. Teach us how it is done. I'll be waiting for your anouncements real soon now......

Ah... I see the author of this is the Captain of Capitalism. Just a question to the Captain. Why are those, such as yourself, never ever 'in charge'?

Is it the number '6' again? or was that 4, or 9?

I recommend reading the declaration of independence and the US Constitution. With those to things created from within how could one be surprised at how successful they have been since?

Rabbit the success and revival of the places you cite are due to the existence and help of the USA.

One thing I bring up from time to time is ask people to identify the ten most profitable sectors of the economy and then to name the top five companies engaged in those areas. I bet 80 to 90% of those firms are american. that, to me, is a huge indicator of the underlying strength of the USA - it has an economic and cultural basis that is able to shed the less profitable enterprises and move on to the newer more profitable ones. the same goes for how it runs its defense and justice and health systems etc.

gord tulk - I fully agree with you about the two documents: The Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution and first ten Amendments. No finer political and social documents exist anywhere.

Agree also with your statement to rabbit; all those countries have relied on the financial and actual assistance of the US. And it's still the same.
Whenever there's a disaster somewhere in the world, what do we hear? When's the US coming to help us!

People don't ask the UN to help. [I wonder why not]. And I've yet to hear anyone calling for help from Canada. Or France. Or Germany. Or..

It's always the same: When is the US coming?

One does indeed wonder why Americans must bear this global burden alone. And why so many on the left sneer at their work.

In addition, we must remember that almost all of the technology that we so regularly use, the medical and scientific advances - were all creations within one country: the US. That's the car, the plane, electricity, etc etc etc.

So, we must acknowledge the greatness of this country - a greatness built around its own acknowledgment of the capacity of human beings, regular, ordinary human beings, to reason, to think, to create, to be free.

ET:

The one item that always puts me in a state of awe is the enshinement of "the pursuit of happiness" as an inalienable right. What boundless optomism Thomas jefferson and company had for their country and the human race - and the role they saw their new country having in helping all of mankind in the "pursuit".

Indiana, Goth is dark to be dark because they are too awkward to fit in. EMO is dark to be dark because they are sad and hormonal.

and a little bit of trivia an aquaintance in the CP related to me about three years ago:

Both the US and Canadian constitutions begin with three words all starting with the same three letters: W, T and P.

The US: We The People

Canada: Whereas The Provinces

Pretty much says all you need to know about the relative strengths of both documents and the nations that they govern.

The fact that the US is the most successful country in history is due to the fact that it is a capitalist, liberal democracy. Change this and it will no longer be the most successful country in history. So the Americans' success has nothing nothing to do with God or their superiority but everything to do with the superiority of their political and economic system.

Rob C:

European and Asian countries received a lot of aid from the U.S. in their recovery. What have other countries done for the U.S???

Very little, but it has nothing to do with my point, which is that in the future the U.S. might not hold the predominant position it has had over the last century.

Charles:

To that I would add enormous natural resources and superb access to seaways, neither of which will go away.

I see many other countries getting better at emulating the Americans so far being as capitalistic, liberal democracies. Not perfectly by any means, but then neither are the Americans.

re. Gord Tulk 5:51PM

Couldn't agree more with the sentiment, Gord, but that's the Declaration of Independence you're quotin' there.
(It's okay, I have it on good authority that there's a special niche in purgatory reserved for pedants.)

And it seems I get to go to the part of purgatory reserved for inaccurate pedants. Yikes.

Ha Ha

I have time-shares in several different purgatorys - make slthings more interesting I find.

And the American fifth columnists in Canada pull out the star spangled banner and wave it proudly. They will not rest till Canada becomes the 51st state.

If you love the US, please feel free to migrate there. Don't count on getting a green card though.

Yay:

I didn't know respecting the U.S. was equivalent to wanting to join it. Thanks for clearing that up.

But what will people do if Obama becomes president? Will this put a damper on their asinine, knee-jerk, mindless, hypocritical American bashing? Just curious.

On the way out of a garden party recently an acquaintance remarked that China and India would inevitably take over the United States as the leading world power. I forget now what he cited as his metrics for this conclusion, but his source was something dumb like Jon Stewart. I didn't feel like engaging the subject nor did I feel like challenging his points or his source of information. Instead, I said, "Well, it's about time. They do have most the population, after all." He seemed genuinely stunned by my apparently cavalier reaction. He hadn't ever thought of it that way. When you think about it, what's taking them so long?

Papa USA is crying he wants to be NUMBER ONE of all the world

and if in fact he isn't
and you say he is not Number ONE anymore
then guess what may happend

he put his big boot on the floor

I say what i want to say and I said " I am number one" in every where every thing
As long as Muslim live on earth always
USA is number ONe and Muslim are No. 3 and the rest of world is No. 2
American can not live witout Muslim as you can see they ara obess to go any where they are in and fly in their country with no permison they like us and they like to stalk Muslim

USA popa said:
"
How dare you say and ask and wish for Number one
you dirty animal, I am sorry I mean pig "

"THERE IS NOT CAUSE OF ACTION"!! FOR you to be NO. 1 while we already order we are No. ONE

we Muslim are going to leave happily after with bronze medal and gold for USA proudly
who care about silver one they are not smart
( I did not say it Mrs. May said that all are stupid!!)
I am sorry we are not sick depressed or jelous or think about all your money and resources we only try to say that
We UNITED STATE OF AMERICA are No. ONE
hora hora
oh no body clap why!!
Have you ever seen children know better than their parents I do not think so
all world seating and watching and letting them stay No. ONE

ONLY IN UNITED STATE OF AMERICA

"When you think about it, what's taking them so long?"

Nothing really. Both countries have only been independent for 60 years. If you were to compare them to the US after 60 years of independence, they are doing quite well.

Will they take over? Eventually, but it is at least a century away. America took 180 years to replace the British Empire, and it could have taken longer if it wasn't for the World Wars.

Unfortunately as a Canadian I realize that many of my fellow citizens have been raised in a anit-American environment based on jealosy and envy. USA is a ground up democracy where politicans are accountable to the electorate whereas Canada is top down and always has been. Any student of history would realize that Canada should have joined the revolution against the monarchy. Instead we remained in a paternalistic society where the citizens take pride in not having to mature and assume responsibility for their actions. Americans had better be more alert as I see more of this attitude creeping into their lives.

looks like new can spell after-all.

As 'new' is Syrian, he/she/them is to be complimented on the spelling, if not on logic. Perhaps it is a genetic thing with he/she/them.

While my persona relies heavily on jingoistic beliefs in my country, and I'm incredibly grateful for having been born at this time and in this place, I have no desire to direct the actions of other countries. I've traveled Europe, Scandinavia, South America, a touch of Russia and a lot of Mexico and Canada. Every country has some strengths and many weaknesses. I can see where some would resent the U. S. At the end of the day, the thoughts of other countries don't make an impression. They all have long histories of incomprehensibly poor leadership and gross injustice, imperialism and hubris. As a result, our leadership sometimes feels the need to backfill. Until the WoT, I preferred we didn't but figured our presence would result in more good than harm. Now, I'm behind them 100%. What the rest of you craven weak sisters "feel" in the meantime, has no weight in the general discourse. You never step up, never will and thus have no legitimate context from which to emote.