Essay America the Great?

Submitted By nepick0
Words: 1251
Pages: 6
Open Document
America the Great?
If you ask a majority of the United States population which country is the greatest in the world, their response will without a doubt be the United States of America. American nationalism is so strong in the hearts of its people that it has no equal anywhere else in the world. However, it is because of the American people’s strong sense of nationalism that their judgment is clouded. The greatness of America is affirmed so much in the media and the culture of the country that it is understandable for people to not believe the contrary. That idea of greatness has been drilled into our heads from an early age through popular songs, reciting the pledge of allegiance, and celebrating the fourth of July like it was an epic triumph. The belief that the United States is the world’s greatest country is the largest hegemonic idea still accepted by the nation’s population today.
Now, if someone deems the United States to not be the greatest country in the world anymore, how can they say if they are wrong or not? A skeptic person must simply look at the evident facts to conclude that the United States is not what it once was. Socially, physically, and economically the United States has fallen from its previous elevated status. Yes, there are still areas in which we take the lead but they are not nearly as numerous or as prestigious as in the time when the country was at its peak.
Various factors contribute to making a country great in the eyes of its citizens. Many Americans would say that their right of freedom makes the United States the best country anyone could ever ask for. However, these traits are not unique to the United States. Japan, Canada, and the United Kingdom all share these traits and yet we do not call them the greatest. Freedom is something that has been tied with the United States since it’s founding. Our country gained a lot of international recognition and respect because of this forward thinking and equality. However, at this present day many other countries have caught up, and even surpassed us in that area of social freedom. Nevertheless we still cater to the idea that we are the only people to have this privilege. Examples of this can be depicted in songs like God Bless the USA by Lee Greenwood because of the lyrics that say, “I’m proud to be an American where at least I know I’m free.” These words make it seem as if the concept of freedom continues to be a huge issue. There are 207 sovereign nations in the world and 180 of them have freedom. While these freedoms may differ, the essence of the notion remains the same. Freedom has been globalized and it is not a forerunning social issue anymore.
While Americans persist on having faith in the thought that they lead the world in freedom, there are truer things in which they take first place. One of the significant categories that we dominate is adult obesity. According to a survey conducted by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 37% of adult Americans are obese. Having over a third of a nation’s adults obese has not helped our international reputation. Americans acquired half of its “fat and lazy” reputation from this statistic. When the people don’t care to look after their own personal health, it is hard to expect them to care for the health and well being of their country. The other half of that reputation stems from the current state of the United States workforce.
The power of the United States was founded upon the backs of our hardworking forefathers. They fought for their lifestyle and that lifestyle continued on for many years after. We magnificently constructed things from railroads to skyscrapers. For a long period of time we took pride in the slogan, “built in America.” Now we are struggling to stay ahead of China, Japan, Germany and other superpowers in the world. This is partially due to the fact that we have developed a very sluggish workforce. This shouldn’t come as a big surprise since we have one of
Show More

Related Documents: Essay America the Great?

Great Awakening In America

English culture in America. Already by the 18th century, America had certain economic and social differences distinguishing them from the British. To begin, America had great economic success. Unlike the British, America had an abundance of land and growth in agriculture that contributed to this success. America’s economy was also more export driven where more than one half of American goods went to Great Britain. While Americans tried to recreate the social structure of Great Britain, differences…

Words 498 - Pages 2

America In The Great War

Ronald Schaffer’s America in the Great War gives new insights into World War I. The book gave historical accounts about the war that other books negated to included. The thesis that Schaffer tries to prove that the Great War was the start of the American welfare state and the beginning of “big” government. America in the Great War was structured in chronological order of the war, from America’s mobilization to the actual fighting. What the book did not include is a detail account…

Words 343 - Pages 2

What Makes America Great

One of the reasons America is great is that it’s peoples continually ask questions and seek to better the world. This quality combined with laws and ideals stemmed from the word of God makes for an ever growing nation. While it also caused some issues (the civil war for example) the idea of humility and willingness to change is very present in America and in it’s peoples. As long as this quality is paired with the absolute morals of the bible, only good can come. America has utilized this combination…

Words 247 - Pages 1

The Ideal Of America In The Great Gatsby

What is the ideal of America? “It is an idea each and every individual human being is offered the opportunity to reach his or her greatest potential” (American Dreaming). In The Great Gatsby written by Scott Fitzgerald, the American Dream was crucial and essential for the society. In the novel narrated by Nick Carraway, Jay Gatsby is a man who gave great effort to accomplish his goals, and who strived to have a life free from poverty; through this determination he gained recognition. Jay Gatsby personifies…

Words 800 - Pages 4

Great America-Personal Narrative

This descriptive story is about my time at Great America .When I first got to Great America I was feeling a whirlwind of emotions excitement, anxiety, and fright. At the front gate there was the same voice going over and over again that was to introduce the people who had just arrived at the park and the beeping of the metal detector, I just prayed that my teeth fillings wouldn’t trigger the alarm and thankfully it didn’t. When all of the group I was with which had consisted of five people myself…

Words 724 - Pages 3

America and the Great War Essay

America and the Great War John F Bailey Hist 405 Devry University 10/15/2012 Introduction World War I (WWI) was a worldwide war concentrated in Europe that initiated on July 28, 1914 and ended roughly after four years on November 11, 1918. It is called the World War since it involved all the world's great powers which gathered in two opposing coalitions: the Allies were Britain, France and Russia, the second collation was the Central Powers that were an Alliance of Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy…

Words 1318 - Pages 6

Importance Of America Great Again Essay

In our high school American History courses, we learn about how the United States has come to be the great nation it is today. We learn that the United States is a nation founded on liberty and freedom. A nation that immigrants dream of coming to in search of better opportunities and equality. One can only imagine how disappointed they would be when they fought so hard to come here, and the second they arrive, they turn on the TV only to hear of the latest conflict between people of two different…

Words 835 - Pages 4

Theodorus Frelinghuysen: The Great Awakening In America

Before the Great Awakening, Theodorus Jacobus Frelinghuysen; a pastor’s son, born on November 6, 1692 in Lingen, Germany answered the call to theology. Through his studies at the University of Lingen and his pastoral associates during his first pastorate in East Friesland, Frelinghuysen had acquired many of the theological leanings of a confessional pietist, among which was a view of the conversion process. Although never officially systematized, confessional pietists in the German Lutheran, Dutch…

Words 1313 - Pages 6

Make America Great Again Analysis

“Make America Great Again”? Donald Trump in making America great again is like a joke for me. Isn't it great already Mr.Trump? Well he purpose that you want to bring factories back to America ground. Also he mention about creating more jobs in America. Lastly You talked about how we can manufacture all of our parts and necessaries here in USA lands. Bringing back the factories back to USA lands Mr. Trump? What an amazing idea I have to admit. But how are you going to do that? What can you tell…

Words 753 - Pages 4

How The Great Depression Affected America

America was in despair. 13 million people had lost their jobs, the stock market’s had lost 25 billion dollars, and 60 percent of American’s were living in complete poverty. The Great Depression had officially begun. Of course, it wasn’t just Americans that were affected by this traumatic situation, but American’s were definitely affected the most by it. It’s inarguable. During this time period Americans were so hopeless that to survive many of them ate roadkill. The luckier of them drank depression…

Words 683 - Pages 3