I kind of know what he is saying. If we don't believe in god and don't follow the bible, why do we say God Bless America?
<< Oh give me a break.
You are right, the US can improve on itself.
TEXAS on the other hand it PERFECT!!!
Remember God said "On earth as it is in TEXAS"
Ok, He didn't really say that but He was thinking it! hehe
For the Euros who hate Texans for no reason allow me to dispell a few myths
We don't all wear Cowboy hats
We don't all own oil
and We don't all ride horses
And a few truths about Texans are:
Big Egos
Big Brains
and Big Mouths
BTW, if you take this seriously, SHAME on you
PastorDon.. your point is moot.. there is NO God. Grow up, think for yourself, quit wasting time on foolish, outdated concepts.
That is all.
That is all.
<< Why Should God Bless America? >>
Because he sends His rain on the just and the unjust?
Because we need it?
It is a biblically logical fallacy and bad hermeneutic to apply 2 Chron 7:14 directly and in an unqualified way to the United States today. The United States of America never has been a Christian nation and therefore by no reasonable stretch can be compared to Old testament Israel (a unique nation which fulfilled a unique purpose) under Solomon in 2 Chronicles 7:14. Read the Constitution, especially the the third paragraph of Article VI:
<< . . . no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States. >>
While several of the colonies did require religious tests to hold public office, it is clear that the framers of the Constituion made a clear and final break with that concept by writing Article VI and ratifying it, with the Bill of Rights (including the ofte-debated First Amendment, in 1789.)
If there is any doubt about the intent of the founding fathers, the Treaty with Tripoli clears that up. It says, in the English version that the existing Congress ratified (Article 11):
<< As the government of the United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian Religion,--as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion or tranquility of Musselmen,--and as the said States never have entered into any war or act of hostility against any Mehomitan nation, it is declared by the parties that no pretext arising from religious opinions shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries. >>
Amused One has it right. While deists have a common sense of a Creator with Christians, it is not an acurrate statement to say that deists are compatible with Christianity. You cannot be a Christian nation in any historically meaningful sense of the term and flagrantly deny the concept of the deity of Christ. Furthermore, you cannot be a Christian nation and say "the United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian religion.
I love America and I believe in the claims of Jesus Christ as they are recorded in the Bible. But I don't need to believe what I want to believe about the United States. It never has been a Christian nation. Some of the colonies that eventually formed the United States were founded with Christian zeal. But the Constitution put an end to that notion.
And I am OK with that. Christianity does its best work when it isn't fetterred to a particular political system. Ask the Romans.
Try convincing the Native Americans that the United States was founded on the Christian religion.
God Bless America.
<< please look for the door out of here >>
Why should he? This is a public forum, after all. He has the right to state his opinion.
<<
<< Becuase the US is the best country in the world and god knows it!!!!!!
BlueApple,
These United States aren't as good as they once were, nor are they as good as they could be. >>
If you don't like it, get the hell out of my country. If you are not in my country, don't ever bothering to show your face in it. >>
There's nothing wrong with patriotism... however, I think that blind patriotism can be destructive. That's ignorance, just as much as blind Christian faith is.
<< Thanks for the kiss, but I still think there is always room for improvement. I don't think PastorDon was comparing our country to other countries and whining about how much it pales in comparison -- I think most countries are guilty of the same things -- I think he was just comparing our nation's standards to God's standards. We fall short, just like any other country. Even Canada, eh?
If you don't want to listen to "a Christian evangelist," don't click on the little forum link that says "Why Should God Bless America?" This is a place for people to express opinions. We're not going to squelch yours. Don't squelch ours. >>
Ditto.
Athanasius
It is a biblically logical fallacy and bad hermeneutic to apply 2 Chron 7:14 directly and in an unqualified way to the United States today. The United States of America never has been a Christian nation and therefore by no reasonable stretch can be compared to Old testament Israel (a unique nation which fulfilled a unique purpose) under Solomon in 2 Chronicles 7:14. Read the Constitution, especially the the third paragraph of Article VI:
What you say is true. If you will reread my post, I did not apply II Chron 7:14 in an unqualified way to the United States today. I quoted this verse because it is useful (as is the vast majority of the OT) in knowing the nature of God. This verse has meaning and application. There is an application for the New Testament Church. I did not use the verse as a promise (as it is often misused in revivals). I quote this as a follow-up to the immediately preceding sentence where I ask if the fact that God judges nations is of any concern.
Also, you and others have placed a few too many words in my mouth. I never said that the US was a Christian nation, I said that we were founded as a result of a Christian worldview. I said that people from Christendom established this land and that they confessed their submission to the God of the Bible, seeking his blessings upon them. In particular I quote Washington, and mention a decree made by congress.
Amused One has it right. While deists have a common sense of a Creator with Christians, it is not an accurate statement to say that deists are compatible with Christianity.
Right again, and I did not say this. However, Deism IS compatible with a Christian Worldview. One can directly link every part of the Declaration of Independence, and of the Constitution to a Biblical basis. Of the 55 delegates to the Constitutional convention, 50 (or as many as 52) were professing Christians. The Christian influence on the founding of this nation cannot be denied. Christian influence from a Christian worldview.
It is a biblically logical fallacy and bad hermeneutic to apply 2 Chron 7:14 directly and in an unqualified way to the United States today. The United States of America never has been a Christian nation and therefore by no reasonable stretch can be compared to Old testament Israel (a unique nation which fulfilled a unique purpose) under Solomon in 2 Chronicles 7:14. Read the Constitution, especially the the third paragraph of Article VI:
What you say is true. If you will reread my post, I did not apply II Chron 7:14 in an unqualified way to the United States today. I quoted this verse because it is useful (as is the vast majority of the OT) in knowing the nature of God. This verse has meaning and application. There is an application for the New Testament Church. I did not use the verse as a promise (as it is often misused in revivals). I quote this as a follow-up to the immediately preceding sentence where I ask if the fact that God judges nations is of any concern.
Also, you and others have placed a few too many words in my mouth. I never said that the US was a Christian nation, I said that we were founded as a result of a Christian worldview. I said that people from Christendom established this land and that they confessed their submission to the God of the Bible, seeking his blessings upon them. In particular I quote Washington, and mention a decree made by congress.
Amused One has it right. While deists have a common sense of a Creator with Christians, it is not an accurate statement to say that deists are compatible with Christianity.
Right again, and I did not say this. However, Deism IS compatible with a Christian Worldview. One can directly link every part of the Declaration of Independence, and of the Constitution to a Biblical basis. Of the 55 delegates to the Constitutional convention, 50 (or as many as 52) were professing Christians. The Christian influence on the founding of this nation cannot be denied. Christian influence from a Christian worldview.
Why should God bless America? Why should God bless anyone?
For that matter, why should God forgive? Why should an innocent man die to reconcile the guilty? Why should God create a world when He knew He was going to destroy it with a flood 10 generations later?
We don't deserve anything God does for us. Blessings are not earned. If they were, they wouldn't be blessings. I still hope God chooses in His sovereignty to bless us, and maybe one day we'll give Him credit for it.
Of course, people who have obviously performed all of these empirical tests will tell me that I'm stupid and that there is no God. Not like they can prove it, but it's "obviously" a more intellectual stance to take. If you're going to tell me that there is no God, at least be prepared to tell me why. Oh, and don't tell me that Buddhism isn't a religion.
For that matter, why should God forgive? Why should an innocent man die to reconcile the guilty? Why should God create a world when He knew He was going to destroy it with a flood 10 generations later?
We don't deserve anything God does for us. Blessings are not earned. If they were, they wouldn't be blessings. I still hope God chooses in His sovereignty to bless us, and maybe one day we'll give Him credit for it.
Of course, people who have obviously performed all of these empirical tests will tell me that I'm stupid and that there is no God. Not like they can prove it, but it's "obviously" a more intellectual stance to take. If you're going to tell me that there is no God, at least be prepared to tell me why. Oh, and don't tell me that Buddhism isn't a religion.
Zenmervolt
Elite member
- Oct 22, 2000
- 24,512
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<<Deism IS compatible with a Christian Worldview. One can directly link every part of the Declaration of Independence, and of the Constitution to a Biblical basis.>>
I know a lot of atheists/agnostics whose worldviews are also compatible with a Christian worldview as it pertains to the day-to-day mundane life here on earth. Your second statement, while technically true, means nothing. One can also link the those same documents to Greek society, Roman society, the code of Hammurabi (sp?), and other previous non-Christian societies. Finding parallels between documents is not proof that one is based upon the other. If you want an interesting parallel, it is interesting to note that Confuscius (sp?) coined "the golden rule" in his Analects a few thousand years before Christ used it.
ZV
I know a lot of atheists/agnostics whose worldviews are also compatible with a Christian worldview as it pertains to the day-to-day mundane life here on earth. Your second statement, while technically true, means nothing. One can also link the those same documents to Greek society, Roman society, the code of Hammurabi (sp?), and other previous non-Christian societies. Finding parallels between documents is not proof that one is based upon the other. If you want an interesting parallel, it is interesting to note that Confuscius (sp?) coined "the golden rule" in his Analects a few thousand years before Christ used it.
ZV
I wouldn't think it's much of a stretch to go from thinking there's an all powerful being who can and does act in the world to asking for his blessing. And I suppose too after a bit of asking for blessings it crosses some people's minds as to whether they deserve them. Where I get a bit concerned is when people start to rely on miracles instead of their own efforts, or when they use the hope of miracles to extract things via deception from the naive. I can't explain how something like the holocaust is compatable with a possibility of the power of prayer. I can see no power that God could have but the power of love. What love cannot do, God can't either, it seems to me.
<< I guess God forgot to bless America on September 11th. There's the lesson then - don't practice prevention, because God sure doesn't do it. >>
<< Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it? >>
Amos 3: 6
Actions have consequences. God didn't fail to bless, he judged.
Your second statement, while technically true, means nothing. One can also link the those same documents to Greek society, Roman society, the code of Hammurabi (sp?), and other previous non-Christian societies. Finding parallels between documents is not proof that one is based upon the other
The difference here is that the founding fathers weren't, by and large, ancient Greeks/Romans. As far as the Code of Hammurabi, I don't believe there is any idea such as inalienable rights; which is probably the most foundational idea behind our form of government. Our rights are given us by God, not by the state. This is rather unique, and is a direct result of a Christian worldview.
This is a pretty good example of a view of rights outside of a Christian worldview. This site THE LONG FAQ ON LIBERALISM is a good example of the anti-thesis of a Christian worldview. I think that you will agree with most of what this guy has to say.
If you want an interesting parallel, it is interesting to note that Confuscius (sp?) coined "the golden rule" in his Analects a few thousand years before Christ used it
This is exactly what one would expect in light of Romans 2:14-16:
For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves, in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them, on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus.
God has written his Laws in the hearts of men.
The difference here is that the founding fathers weren't, by and large, ancient Greeks/Romans. As far as the Code of Hammurabi, I don't believe there is any idea such as inalienable rights; which is probably the most foundational idea behind our form of government. Our rights are given us by God, not by the state. This is rather unique, and is a direct result of a Christian worldview.
This is a pretty good example of a view of rights outside of a Christian worldview. This site THE LONG FAQ ON LIBERALISM is a good example of the anti-thesis of a Christian worldview. I think that you will agree with most of what this guy has to say.
If you want an interesting parallel, it is interesting to note that Confuscius (sp?) coined "the golden rule" in his Analects a few thousand years before Christ used it
This is exactly what one would expect in light of Romans 2:14-16:
For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves, in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them, on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus.
God has written his Laws in the hearts of men.
<< Why Should God Bless America? >>
Because he sends His rain on the just and the unjust?
Because we need it?
It is a biblically logical fallacy and bad hermeneutic to apply 2 Chron 7:14 directly and in an unqualified way to the United States today. The United States of America never has been a Christian nation and therefore by no reasonable stretch can be compared to Old testament Israel (a unique nation which fulfilled a unique purpose) under Solomon in 2 Chronicles 7:14. Read the Constitution, especially the the third paragraph of Article VI:
<< . . . no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States. >>
While several of the colonies did require religious tests to hold public office, it is clear that the framers of the Constituion made a clear and final break with that concept by writing Article VI and ratifying it, with the Bill of Rights (including the ofte-debated First Amendment, in 1789.)
If there is any doubt about the intent of the founding fathers, the Treaty with Tripoli clears that up. It says, in the English version that the existing Congress ratified (Article 11):
<< As the government of the United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian Religion,--as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion or tranquility of Musselmen,--and as the said States never have entered into any war or act of hostility against any Mehomitan nation, it is declared by the parties that no pretext arising from religious opinions shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries. >>
Amused One has it right. While deists have a common sense of a Creator with Christians, it is not an acurrate statement to say that deists are compatible with Christianity. You cannot be a Christian nation in any historically meaningful sense of the term and flagrantly deny the concept of the deity of Christ. Furthermore, you cannot be a Christian nation and say "the United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian religion.
I love America and I believe in the claims of Jesus Christ as they are recorded in the Bible. But I don't need to believe what I want to believe about the United States. It never has been a Christian nation. Some of the colonies that eventually formed the United States were founded with Christian zeal. But the Constitution put an end to that notion.
And I am OK with that. Christianity does its best work when it isn't fetterred to a particular political system. Ask the Romans.
Try convincing the Native Americans that the United States was founded on the Christian religion.
One of the best posts I've ever read here.
Because he sends His rain on the just and the unjust?
Because we need it?
It is a biblically logical fallacy and bad hermeneutic to apply 2 Chron 7:14 directly and in an unqualified way to the United States today. The United States of America never has been a Christian nation and therefore by no reasonable stretch can be compared to Old testament Israel (a unique nation which fulfilled a unique purpose) under Solomon in 2 Chronicles 7:14. Read the Constitution, especially the the third paragraph of Article VI:
<< . . . no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States. >>
While several of the colonies did require religious tests to hold public office, it is clear that the framers of the Constituion made a clear and final break with that concept by writing Article VI and ratifying it, with the Bill of Rights (including the ofte-debated First Amendment, in 1789.)
If there is any doubt about the intent of the founding fathers, the Treaty with Tripoli clears that up. It says, in the English version that the existing Congress ratified (Article 11):
<< As the government of the United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian Religion,--as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion or tranquility of Musselmen,--and as the said States never have entered into any war or act of hostility against any Mehomitan nation, it is declared by the parties that no pretext arising from religious opinions shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries. >>
Amused One has it right. While deists have a common sense of a Creator with Christians, it is not an acurrate statement to say that deists are compatible with Christianity. You cannot be a Christian nation in any historically meaningful sense of the term and flagrantly deny the concept of the deity of Christ. Furthermore, you cannot be a Christian nation and say "the United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian religion.
I love America and I believe in the claims of Jesus Christ as they are recorded in the Bible. But I don't need to believe what I want to believe about the United States. It never has been a Christian nation. Some of the colonies that eventually formed the United States were founded with Christian zeal. But the Constitution put an end to that notion.
And I am OK with that. Christianity does its best work when it isn't fetterred to a particular political system. Ask the Romans.
Try convincing the Native Americans that the United States was founded on the Christian religion.
One of the best posts I've ever read here.
<< Sex is not a bad thing. >>
Well, it can be.
"All wrongdoing is sin." I John 5:17. That would be "bad things." Or perhaps things which can be good but are used for bad. Sin goes deeper than the actual action, I guess. It goes to the motivations and attitudes and stuff like that, including the bad reasoning and attitude behind the bad action.
Well for those of us who would be put off by the notion that God wrote stuff in our hearts and us non Christians kind of get sloppy seconds with a sort of taste of God, but Hell for thanks anyway, I would just want to say that from a strictly logical point of view, it's impossible to say if God wrote that stuff in our hearts, or that stuff is our true genetic heritage and God gets invented whenever anybody happens to stumble into his true self. That is possible the real reason why our rights are inallienable and don't depend on the existance or non existance of God.
God has written his Laws in the hearts of men.
I'm glad then that you agree that one must not accept Christ in order to know god. Or are you just trying to have your cake and eat it too?
I'm glad then that you agree that one must not accept Christ in order to know god. Or are you just trying to have your cake and eat it too?
God loves every one of u even if you don't think so
Well im gonna go read my bible now kthx.
God be with you all.
Well im gonna go read my bible now kthx.
God be with you all.
<< "All wrongdoing is sin." I John 5:17. That would be "bad things." Or perhaps things which can be good but are used for bad. Sin goes deeper than the actual action, I guess. It goes to the motivations and attitudes and stuff like that, including the bad reasoning and attitude behind the bad action. >>
First of all, sin should be defined as religious law as it is in the English dictionary. Second, many pro-survival behaviour can be classified as a "sin". If you believe that evil is the cause for one's irrationality, it seems more like guessing than actual knowledge. Very few religions seem to understand the true nature of Man.
I don't like organized religion. It largely consists of a bunch of sheep getting together for bingo, then assigning random meanings to the numbers that pop out of the barrel.
However, I do assign more value to a personal relationship with God. Cut the red tape if it makes you feel better. I do.
So sin, I don't think, refers to that much of a religious code. At least, not for me. Maybe it does to the dictionary writer. To me, it's a violation of my natural conscience. I know I do things that are wrong, and I feel bad about them when I do them. That's sin.
However, I do assign more value to a personal relationship with God. Cut the red tape if it makes you feel better. I do.
So sin, I don't think, refers to that much of a religious code. At least, not for me. Maybe it does to the dictionary writer. To me, it's a violation of my natural conscience. I know I do things that are wrong, and I feel bad about them when I do them. That's sin.
Cuz Jesus loves everybody...People in Nigeria or Papua New Guinea or Monaco or whatever all say "God bless..." and their respective rinky-dink nation
Get over it and find some other excuse to bash the US
Get over it and find some other excuse to bash the US
The primary reason we don't view the God as the God in the Bible is becuase of Americans like me. I'm not Christian and I don't like having
Christian ideals and beliefs forced fed down my throat. I'm not saying your force-feeding me Christianity, becuase I willingly click into this
forum. However, if millions of stickers, speakers, etc. speak of God as the Christian God, what am I to do but shut my eyes and ears? This
is not to say that I don't like Christians, becuase most true Christians I know are great people - they're extremely open minded, very loving,
kind, and will rarely ponder questions as to why God should bless America. There is no harm in God blessing America; God can bless other
countries as he wishes. Again, I want to point out that I don't think you're necessarily being non-Christian by asking why God should bless
America, it's just a truly horrible thing to say. I want myself and my country to be blessed. If other people want themselves and their
country to be blessed, I can certainly see no objections. You can be blessed becuase your God is the true God, and I cannot becuase my
God is the false God?
About the founding of America under a Christian basis: it really doesn't matter. Japan was founded, originally, under a fuedal system (sp?),
but should it remain that way? Afghanistan was founded by Islamic fundamentalists, but should it reamin that way? Absolutely not! Japan
is a much healthier country due to its change of government. Afghanistan will be much better when it realizes there is more to the world
then Islam. Thus, America is changing to suit its people, sort of. America can't be the millions of religions and cultures it represents,
becuase it's impossible. Therefore, we have a secular or universal America.
You have to realize one more thing that people such as you frequently do. If there's one thing you know for certain, I am a creation of God.
To you, this means your God, becuase only He could create me and give me a soul. To others, it may mean their own God. Either way, I
want to be respected as a creation of God, and I may some day see the same light you are. However, for the moment being asking such
offensive questions really doesn't help anyone.
Christian ideals and beliefs forced fed down my throat. I'm not saying your force-feeding me Christianity, becuase I willingly click into this
forum. However, if millions of stickers, speakers, etc. speak of God as the Christian God, what am I to do but shut my eyes and ears? This
is not to say that I don't like Christians, becuase most true Christians I know are great people - they're extremely open minded, very loving,
kind, and will rarely ponder questions as to why God should bless America. There is no harm in God blessing America; God can bless other
countries as he wishes. Again, I want to point out that I don't think you're necessarily being non-Christian by asking why God should bless
America, it's just a truly horrible thing to say. I want myself and my country to be blessed. If other people want themselves and their
country to be blessed, I can certainly see no objections. You can be blessed becuase your God is the true God, and I cannot becuase my
God is the false God?
About the founding of America under a Christian basis: it really doesn't matter. Japan was founded, originally, under a fuedal system (sp?),
but should it remain that way? Afghanistan was founded by Islamic fundamentalists, but should it reamin that way? Absolutely not! Japan
is a much healthier country due to its change of government. Afghanistan will be much better when it realizes there is more to the world
then Islam. Thus, America is changing to suit its people, sort of. America can't be the millions of religions and cultures it represents,
becuase it's impossible. Therefore, we have a secular or universal America.
You have to realize one more thing that people such as you frequently do. If there's one thing you know for certain, I am a creation of God.
To you, this means your God, becuase only He could create me and give me a soul. To others, it may mean their own God. Either way, I
want to be respected as a creation of God, and I may some day see the same light you are. However, for the moment being asking such
offensive questions really doesn't help anyone.
<< I don't like organized religion. It largely consists of a bunch of sheep getting together for bingo, then assigning random meanings to the numbers that pop out of the barrel.
However, I do assign more value to a personal relationship with God. Cut the red tape if it makes you feel better. I do.
So sin, I don't think, refers to that much of a religious code. At least, not for me. Maybe it does to the dictionary writer. To me, it's a violation of my natural conscience. I know I do things that are wrong, and I feel bad about them when I do them. That's sin. >>
Wait a minute, so would that mean that people who commit murder and have no natural conscience to speak of are not sinning? There's
plenty of bad things done that people actually feel good about... is that sin or not?
Perhaps of interest to you will be a book by John Mearshimer entitled "The tragedy of great power politics." Mearshimer's theory (although hardly his alone) is offensive realsim, i.e. that all states are out for their own survival, and the best way to achieve this is with security to be found through subjugating neighbors. The US has hegemonic control of the Western hemisphere. It doesn't have global hegemony because of the difficulty of projecting its power over large bodies of water. So the US is really no different from any other great power; it just happens to be successful. Look at it this way: countries with nukes: The US, Russia, France, the UK, China, India, Pakistan, Israel. Democracies: The US, UK, France, India, Israel. Now if Israel or France were being invaded and threatened with extinction, would they be any less likely to unleash the nukes than say Russia or Pakistan?
The theory has holes because sometimes the US does act magnanimously, but the second half of this century provides too many examples of awful behavior on the part of this country to say it really deserves the medal for good sportsmanship:
FDR lied to the public about his intentions in joining WWII.
The US buddied up to the (EVIL) USSR to fight Germany and launched PR campaign to explain how not awful Stalin was.
In Korea, there were thousands of US prisoners being abused in Chinese and N. Korean prison camps while the US was negotiating for years for a political victory.
More recently, the US supported contras in Nicaragua and supported various attempts to overturn legitimate governments in S. America.
Reagan promised that he'd never deal with terrorists, but he did just that and used the profits to support a guerilla affair mentioned above (nicaragua if memory serves)
Clinton was voted into office saying he'd oppose the "Butchers of Beijing" then he buddied up.
He reversed opinion on Haiti, leaving them to their own devices.
The sanctions on Iraq have cost tens of thousands of lives with no real hope of success in ousting Saddam.
What really annoys me is when I'm watching Black Hawk Down and I see an army dude shoot an armed Somali. The somali's son runs to his now dead father and kneels over his chest, then somebody two rows back tells the American to "Shoot [the kid]. Kill him!" That's awful--as though human life really isn't that important.
Furthermore, the America you see today is sort of a Hamiltonian vision of a world power, not a Jeffersonian/Madisonian vision of a Democratic state that leverages its economic power to make other states better.
Sorry for the rant-like nature, but long story short: The US isn't great. It's a lot better than most, maybe even all other countries, but there's an insane amount of room for improvement.
The theory has holes because sometimes the US does act magnanimously, but the second half of this century provides too many examples of awful behavior on the part of this country to say it really deserves the medal for good sportsmanship:
FDR lied to the public about his intentions in joining WWII.
The US buddied up to the (EVIL) USSR to fight Germany and launched PR campaign to explain how not awful Stalin was.
In Korea, there were thousands of US prisoners being abused in Chinese and N. Korean prison camps while the US was negotiating for years for a political victory.
More recently, the US supported contras in Nicaragua and supported various attempts to overturn legitimate governments in S. America.
Reagan promised that he'd never deal with terrorists, but he did just that and used the profits to support a guerilla affair mentioned above (nicaragua if memory serves)
Clinton was voted into office saying he'd oppose the "Butchers of Beijing" then he buddied up.
He reversed opinion on Haiti, leaving them to their own devices.
The sanctions on Iraq have cost tens of thousands of lives with no real hope of success in ousting Saddam.
What really annoys me is when I'm watching Black Hawk Down and I see an army dude shoot an armed Somali. The somali's son runs to his now dead father and kneels over his chest, then somebody two rows back tells the American to "Shoot [the kid]. Kill him!" That's awful--as though human life really isn't that important.
Furthermore, the America you see today is sort of a Hamiltonian vision of a world power, not a Jeffersonian/Madisonian vision of a Democratic state that leverages its economic power to make other states better.
Sorry for the rant-like nature, but long story short: The US isn't great. It's a lot better than most, maybe even all other countries, but there's an insane amount of room for improvement.
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