By Edwin Cooney
Except for being a reflection on how Americans assess their political system, our culture, as well as in general our domestic and foreign affairs, the argument over America’s “greatness” is silly, shallow, and quite boring. What is neither silly, shallow, nor boring is the apparent loss of that sense of togetherness that was predominant throughout America for over 60 years following the 1898 Spanish-American War. During that 60 plus year time period there was a general expectation of unity in both peace and war — an expectation that was much stronger than even the pull of political differences. That was the time that Tom Brokaw labeled as “The Greatest Generation.” Whatever their political differences, Americans were family first and foremost. This week, thanks to Governor Andrew Cuomo, America’s “greatness” once again became a political issue rather than merely an American truism for all of us to hang onto and thus innocently take for granted.
Last Wednesday, in an effort to appeal to potential supporters of Cynthia Nixon, Governor Cuomo’s opponent for renomination from the left, Mr. Cuomo asserted that America never really had been all that great. In a rather eloquent New York Times editorial this past Saturday, Bret Stephens, among other things, chided Governor Cuomo for handing the Republicans a wonderful issue for the coming Fall campaign. Of course, Fox News and other Conservative mouthpieces took up the governor’s loose-lipped liberal lingo with “great gusto.” I read somewhere that a group of Republicans, it may have been the New York Republican Gubernatorial Campaign Committee, purchased a one way ticket to Montreal for the governor’s convenient use.
Mr. Stephens reminded voters that Mr. Cuomo’s 2010 campaign slogan was “Together, let’s make New York State great again.” Even more persuasive, Mr. Stephens reminded us that Bill Clinton’s 1993 Inaugural Address contained probably the best proclamation regarding America’s “greatness” when he said: “There is nothing wrong with America that can’t be cured by what’s right with America.”
So whether we like it or not, whether the argument over America’s greatness merits all of the negatives I just cited, America’s greatness is still there for the duration in 2018. So, here’s my two cents worth!
First, let’s get very personal. Are those you love important to you? If so, how have they earned that special place in your heart? Did they write a great document? Did they earn the Medal of Freedom? Are they collectively brilliant? Are they physically more beautiful than all others? Would those outside your immediate circle consider them significant?
Next, let’s get civic-minded. What about the teachers, preachers, doctors and nurses, police and firemen in your life? In your view, are all of them outstanding?
Next, let’s move to others we often consider “great.” Within their domains of occupation, many of them stand out by comparison with other sports heroes, entertainment figures, war veterans, business and civic leaders.
Finally, what about public servants? Okay, more specifically, politicians. Although that’s a subject for another time, we students of history insist that there have been great politicians who’ve earned a hallowed place in America’s Hall of Fame.
Those who’ve earned your love and regard, namely family members, have one thing in common — that’s you. That intimate proximity is their ticket to your personal Hall of Fame. In your heart, no matter what their imperfections may be, they have a significance you’d insist upon regardless of whatever teacher, preacher, judge or even jury might conclude about them or regarding a specific activity of theirs.
When the Founding Fathers began writing the Constitution, they didn’t promise a “great union” in its preamble. Nor did they promise a perfect union. What they did promise was a “…more perfect union.”
Of course, America is a great nation! It always has been and my guess is that it probably always will be. Ah, but there are other vital aspects to consider.
America never has held a monopoly on national greatness. The ancient Egyptian, Greek, and Roman homelands and empires were great. The British Empire was great, even though Americans from 1776 to about 1917-18 didn’t consider Britain a really great nation. Other nations such as France, Italy, Germany and even Japan, China and Russia have demonstrated greatness. Even more, most of the citizens of other nations regard their homelands as great.
As Bill Clinton asserted by at least implication in his 1993 Inaugural speech, what keeps America great is her built-in capacity to heal her sins and redress the grievances of her people.
Our love for our families and friends doesn’t require either perfection or greatness. I argue that neither relative nor actual perfection is the foundation of greatness.
Greatness is an outstanding or unusual subjective achievement. When we created our federal constitution with its checks and balances and its Bill of Rights, we achieved an outstanding system of government unprecedented throughout modern human history. However, throughout the history of our development, some European countries dealt with the injustices of modern industrialism faster than we did. In about 1909, Great Britain’s parliament passed the first old age insurance plan almost thirty years before Franklin Roosevelt and Senator Robert Wagner’s Social Security measure. One of the reasons for that had to do with Winston Churchill. Although his mother was well off, he needed to take care of his nanny Mrs. Everett who had taken such splendid care of young Winston. If you ask me, that act was a part of Britain’s greatness.
Yes, indeed, America is and always has been great. No one, insofar as I’m aware, has asked President Trump just exactly when America stopped being great so that he alone might make it great once again!
Finally, I’m convinced that America will continue in her greatness on the day we stop bragging about it.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,
EDWIN COONEY
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