What was America's most honorable act in its history?

[MillionaireNextDoor]

Abolishment of slavery? (although the Southern states, other slave states, etc. did advance it in the early days)

Break-up of the Taliban? War against Terror? War against Poverty?

Civil Rights Act?

I believe America is not all bad and that we should come up with some stuff it actually got RIGHT, although never forgetting that America did do some pretty bad stuff in its history that created or contributed to WRONGS that needed or needs to be RIGHTED.

 

[Feldenak]

All those you mentioned are good but you left out the Marshall Plan.

 

[sygyzy]

What's funny is most of those are goods done to fix a bad. That' s like saying "daddy's a good man because he stopped beating mommy"

 

[Ryan]

Our entry into WW1 & 2 - solidified and built our country into the superpower it is today.

 

[MillionaireNextDoor]

Womens' Suffrage also (after much agony), Sherman Anti-trust Act, Pendleton Act (it took an assassination for this to happen though)

oh and the Antibigamy Act of 1862

 

[MillionaireNextDoor]

Originally posted by: sygyzy
What's funny is most of those are goods done to fix a bad. That' s like saying "daddy's a good man because he stopped beating mommy"

No no, daddy did a GOOD THING because he stopped beating mommy.

But yeah, doesn't automatically make daddy a good man.

 

[Feldenak]

Some of the things the Marshall Plan accomplished:

(1) Pays freight subsidies for 16.8 million private voluntary relief packages to Europe.

(2) Funds building of a new wharf in North Borneo to help that British colony export vitally needed rubber.

(3) Assists building railroads and water systems in French North Africa

(4) $50 million for medicine to combat tuberculosis.

(5) Technical assistance program: over 3,000 Europeans make six-month visits to various U.S. industries to learn new techniques; there was a similar program in agriculture.

(6) The Ford Motor Co. in Britain receives funds to replace machine tools needed to produce cars, trucks, and tractors for export, thereby earning valuable foreign exchange credits.

(7) The Otis Elevator Company (U.S.) helps to modernize British factories, and its investment is guaranteed by ECA insurance.

(8) ECA money enables Portugal to purchase key equipment and materials to build a new hospital-tender ship for its cod-fishing fleet.

(9) The French aircraft industry in able to purchase propellers for the aircraft it is producing.

(10) An alcohol-producing plant in Scotland is granted $6.5 million, thereby reducing British imports and facilitating plastic, pharmaceutical, and rayon production.

Taken from here

 

[KK]

Originally posted by: MillionaireNextDoor

Originally posted by: sygyzy
What's funny is most of those are goods done to fix a bad. That' s like saying "daddy's a good man because he stopped beating mommy"

No no, daddy did a GOOD THING because he stopped beating mommy.

But yeah, doesn't automatically make daddy a good man.

Maybe momma needed a good spanking.

KK

 

[kami333]

Originally posted by: sygyzy
What's funny is most of those are goods done to fix a bad. That' s like saying "daddy's a good man because he stopped beating mommy"

Yup, and most of them aren't special either. US was neither the first to abolish slavery or grant women's sufferage.

I'd say Marshall Plan, although it can't be denied that the US did have an interest in a thriving Europe as a barrier from Communism.

 

[dpm]

Originally posted by: kami333

Originally posted by: sygyzy What's funny is most of those are goods done to fix a bad. That' s like saying "daddy's a good man because he stopped beating mommy"

Yup, and most of them aren't special either. US was neither the first to abolish slavery or grant women's sufferage. I'd say Marshall Plan, although it can't be denied that the US did have an interest in a thriving Europe as a barrier from Communism.

True, but the US could have done the same thing it (and the UK and France) did after the First World War. Producing the Marshall plan instead was a truly inspired act, in my opinion, and one that will always sound to the USA's credit.

 

[SackOfAllTrades]

That one Cubs fan.

 

[Zorba]

Berlin Airlift
Giving the Phillipans (sp?) their independence.

 

[5ayle]

"we need to protect the sanctity of marriage"

 

[Czar]

Originally posted by: Feldenak
All those you mentioned are good but you left out the Marshall Plan.

Marshall Plan is definetly the most honorable thing the US has ever done

 

[freegeeks]

as an European I would say the Marshall Plan

it was a visionary plan that helped Europe to get back on its feet

 

[Analog]

rebuilding europe without asking for repayment (WWII).

 

[Acanthus]

The united states does a lot of work to stabilize the world and gives massive amounts of humanitarian aid every year.

Site that details current US Aid programs

 

[Feldenak]

Originally posted by: freegeeks
as an European I would say the Marshall Plan

it was a visionary plan that helped Europe to get back on its feet

Ok, the world can officially end now. freegeeks and I have agreed on something.

 

[XZeroII]

Every country in the history of the world has it's dark side and light side. Our country is no different. I would argue that the people who actually created this country were the most honorable. They stood up for what they believed in and did something about it. They revolted over a tax of only about 4% (or somewhere around there) on a few select products. Yet, here we are giving more than 1/3 of our total income to our government and we are just sitting here typing on our computers about how it sucks. We are pathetic compared to the people back then.

 

[Saulbadguy]

Peace Corps.

 

[dquan97]

Instituting Federal Income tax

 

[tk149]

Fighting and outlasting the U.S.S.R.

 

[Saulbadguy]

So..according to the "other" thread, America has done many more dishonorable things than honorable.

 

[WinkOsmosis]

How are abolishing slavery and creating civil rights legislation honorable? That's taking up smoking and quitting, and being called a hero. Rights aren't given by the government. They are taken by those who they belong to.

 

[slick230]

Originally posted by: Zorba
Berlin Airlift
Giving the Phillipans (sp?) their independence.

Berlin Airlift has my vote, too.