What is great about USA?

'America is a great country' is pretty much a cliche.

I would like to start this thread for everybody to post what in their view makes USA great.

My hope is that every poster would first put some thought into it, so that the response is not just a repeat of somebody's propaganda talking point, but something they are fairly convinced to be true.

For the sake of starting with some common ground, here is the 'American' definition of 'great'.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Merriam-Webster

Main Entry: ¹great <input onclick="return au('great001', 'great');" class="au" title="Listen to the pronunciation of 1great" type="button">
Pronunciation: \ˈgrāt, Southern also ˈgre(ə)t\
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English grete, from Old English grēat; akin to Old High German grōz large
Date: before 12th century
1 a : notably large in size : huge b : of a kind characterized by relative largeness —used in plant and animal names c : elaborate, ample <great detail>
2 a : large in number or measure : numerous <great multitudes> b : predominant <the great majority>
3 : remarkable in magnitude, degree, or effectiveness <great bloodshed>
4 : full of emotion <great with anger>
5 a : eminent, distinguished <a great poet> b : chief or preeminent over others —often used in titles <Lord Great Chamberlain> c : aristocratic, grand <great ladies>
6 : long continued <a great while>
7 : principal, main <a reception in the great hall>
8 : more remote in a family relationship by a single generation than a specified relative <great-grandfather>
9 : markedly superior in character or quality; especially : noble <great of soul>
10 a : remarkably skilled <great at tennis> b : marked by enthusiasm : keen <great on science fiction>
11 —used as a generalized term of approval <had a great time> <it was just great>

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Let's stick to 9, so that the thread is fairly well defined and I think that's the closest to the meaning of the phrase I started with.

One thing I particularly liked about America was the vastness and the variation of scenery. Meaning I visited Bryce canyon, a petrified forest, death valley, some mountain or other, Las Vegas, Lake Tahoe, .... and all these places were very different in their appearance, as well as being big.

While walking or hiking, I enjoyed the fact that I was able to walk half a day and not seeing anyone but my wife. America is vasst and varied, and I want to visit it again someday in the distant future.

Was this the sort of thing you were looking for?

As an outsider looking in, I would say that the USA's greatest strength lies with it's people.
Obviously, we Brits tend to be slightly more reserved in nature than our cousins on the other side of the Atlantic.

I lived in the States for about ten years. I worked, got my BBA, MBA and post-MBA there.

I've met some of the best people over there, and I still have lots good friends that I "talk with" on the net.
USA is diverse and you also have whatever climate you prefer...
I'll probably get pepper for this; but in my subjective opinion the USA is still the "home of the free"...

This is a nice idea for a thread. I'm a little surprised that there aren't a lot of hyperbolic responses to it yet.

What makes America great?

I agree that the people are its strength, however, I believe that we get a little too much residual benefit from the greatness of those who came before us.

I think what makes America great is that we have more opportunity here. I'm not aware of any other place in the world that makes success easier to achieve. It's great in that while still imperfect, the generosity of it's people is incredible. Even though the percentage of GNI of foreign aid isn't as high as other nations, the real dollar foreign aid is staggering.

One thing that I find particularly interesting is that the US spends almost half of the whole world's military expenditure annually (almost 10X more than the next closes nation, China). However, even though we have the best technology in the world, we aren't aggressively trying to concur other lands. Yes, there's a propensity for us to try to police the world a bit more than I'd like, but I feel that the motivations (while certainly aren't the purest or we'd be doing more in Africa trying to help that situation) certainly could be worse.

Another thing that makes the US great is that even though pretty much the whole world blames the US for almost all the problems, we still keep chugging along being the first to render aid to other countries in the wake of natural disasters or other tragedies. We have "big shoulders", but they aren't perfect.

And yes it is beautiful. In fact, the Chinese word for the United States is "Mei Guo" which means "Beautiful Country".

Now if asked to list problems, the list could be equally long

I'll be quite interested to see other responses

Chili On Spaghetti

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...line_4-way.jpg

...we keep our earthquakes mostly in California?

:confused:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Slartibartfast

Chili On Spaghetti

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You forgot cheese in a can.

Semi official admin note: I'm sure many of us could also find a list of things to complain about regarding the US, but let's keep this thread on topic so that it does not degenerate into a bash fest.

Perhaps what makes America great is the peoples perception that it is. The Cliche if you like.

What I find particularly great is more or less along the lines of what Bruno said about the land it's self, that is very appealing to me.

The entertainment value of our politicians.

Agreeing with richmondesi, opportunity was the first thing that came to my mind. During the time of LBJ I, as a grammar school dropout, could learn a trade and make a decent living. I don't know if that is still the case since our politicians have sold the working class down the river for filthy lucre.

We grouse about the lack of it but we do have freedom in this country that few others can equal. I also agree with Paul on the willingness of the USA to help other nations who are in distress. From the Marshall plan at the end of WWll to our recent assistance to the Haitian people we Americans have always stepped up to the plate.

There are many other reasons and when all is said and done I am proud to be an American without claiming that 'we' are superior to all other nations.

The right to bare arms.....(Or wear long sleeves if you wish)

Seriously, The scenic and community diversification that can be seen within small sections as well as the whole. One place that comes to mind is the Cumberland Gap. On the TN side you have this small town named Cumberland Gap which probably has about 250 residents and a couple of quaint stores but on the other side of the Gap is Middlesboro Ky a city of about 40,000 with all the modern convinces. It use to be a trail over the Gap then a road but now a tunnel almost 1 mile long under the Gap. Once on the Ky side there is a road That takes you to the pinnacle overlook where you can see the "saddle" of the gap as well as the flat country that leads to it. There's still a cannon up there from the Civil war and many stories from those who have visited there before. There are places like this all over this country and I never tire of visiting them.

Scenery? Weather diversification? Come to Arizona :)

American greatness? There are so many ways to answer this question. I'll sum it up in our innovation. If it can be done we'll figure it out, and we don't mind helping others to do the same.

One thing that is great to me is that I can be in a class instructed by a woman and talk about religion and everyone elses ideas about death and the afterlife without persecution. Many many countries don't have that freedom. In many countries she would be killed and the class would be punished as well. Although we aren't absolutely free, we enjoy many priceless freedoms.

I had a family member who moved there after WW2, and when i was little i heard the stories from USA every summer when he visited here.
Of what i heard about USA was that everyone there has a change to get a job with decent salary to make a decent life.
I liked and still do like the culture where it is possible for everyone to have a life where it is strictly up yours to make things done.

Time has passed since i heard those stories and later i've also learned to know that USA has given to world some of its greatest writers and artists. In general, USA have had a great influence in the whole western world (both in good and bad) for the last 100 years.

I've met some people from the USA, both at work and at civil life. Some of them have been most hearty and gentle people i've known.

And lastly: you had the worlds greatest cars up until early eighties.

Mom, baseball, and apple pie.

......Duh!

My favorite thing is that it has the lowest levels of impediments upon the notion that your effort = your success.

You can move here with very little, work extremely hard, and finish with great financial security if that's your aim, which it so often is. Ask an immigrant small biz owner and they'll emphatically declare it's true here more than any other place.

The vastness and beauty of the natural world here.

The fact that Americans really are capable of great generosity.

The diversity of culture, religion, and geography.

Our literature and music.

And this little volume in front of me, which has been a key to the freedoms and opportunities we enjoy: The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States of America.

And, not coincidentally, the fact that I got this little book from the Cato Institute's booth at the American Library Association annual conference, and their representative and I had a very friendly conversation about disagreeing on almost everything except civil liberties. :)

~Rich

The Onion

My Constituents Care Way More About Political Gamesmanship Than Jobs, Health Care, And The Economy | The Onion - America's Finest News Source

As someone who isn't American I think the best thing about America is that everyone has an opinion about everything. This means that no matter what the issue you can get meaningfull debate. Here in Thailand people only seem to have an opinion one something once it is knocking at their front door. If it's not an iminet problem here in Thailand people here don't care.

The more I read, the more I believe it's a simple perception!

The perception does matter. That can be healthy. It's more straightforward for an individual--if one thinks one might have the potential for greatness, it's at least possible that that will act as a spur to live greatly--but I think it can happen, less reliably perhaps, for nations. And I should probably clarify, my understanding of the question is not "what makes the United States greater than all other countries, who should therefore bow down and worship us," but simply what we see as great about this country, independent of the great qualities of others. Seems to me that my fellow responders here are on the same page as far as that goes.

And on my previous list, how could I have forgotten bourbon? :D

~Rich

Scenery: There's a lot of good stuff to see, and much diversity.

People: Friendly, open (in general).

Culture: Success is not a bad word.


I'm happy to be back.

The food: Virginia ham, Idaho potatoes, New York pizza, Nathan's hot dogs, Ben and Jerry's, Jersey tomatoes, dill pickles, Chicago deep dish pizza, Wisconsin cheese and apple pie.

The freedoms are better here than anywhere else.

To me, it is the human spirit and the fact that our system was designed to allow that spirit to be what it will be. The knowledge of what some have been able to do or accomplish under that system, despite the odds against continues to show us that to a large degree we determine our own limits.

As well, the diversity of cultures that ended up melting into something pretty unique.

Finally, as a dew have stated, we have some pretty real estate. A California native, I've lived in Monatan most of my life, and travelled throughout...every state I've seen has sights that makes you want to stay a little longer before going back home.

Great thread...Thanks for starting it!

Persoanlly I think the worst thing about the USofA is that more people are trying to get in, then trying to get out......

Oh wait you said the best thing??? oh hell same diff :roflmao:roflmao:roflmao

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gssixgun

Persoanlly I think the worst thing about the USofA is that more people are trying to get in, then trying to get out......

Oh wait you said the best thing??? oh hell same diff :roflmao:roflmao:roflmao

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And here is a little example why. The US Startup Visa: A boon for dismayed, frustrated British entrepreneurs | Mobile Industry Review

Another outsiders opinion

1- The first ammendment. I love what this document stands for.

2-The people. Every American I have ever met (except maybe the one who poorly packaged the coti I won on Ebay to have it smashed into smithereens) has been outstanding: friendly, generous, proud and gregarious people.

3-A serious commitment to several Global Issues of security and peace.

4-Gary Busey.

I'm a second generation American. I'm actually a mut my Mexican mom married a guy who's so white he glows in the dark. America is great for a litany of reasons. And I will go into examples and experiences I've had.
But ultimately this concept is what I find that is the root of American expectationalism. We are endowed by our creator with certain unalienable rights, being life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
Although some of the social norms were incorrect at the time, and it took a war to start the straightening out, the framers captured a concept that hadn't existed in the past. They created a framework where all men had basically equal protection of the law. Thus if you were a war time refugee like my grandparents, or a rich guy who uses 100 dollar bills for toilet paper. It didn't matter, you still had the same playing field.
I just had a conversation with my grandfather, (a nationalized citizen) who though much struggle and pain went to vote in the primaries. (voting is something he deeply values) and he to this day is amazed that you can go vote without having the bridges shut down, military in the streets, riots, and gunfire. What he finds amazing is the peaceful transfer of power. (something I feel is being threatened)
Today his kids and grandkids have opportunities that would have been impossible in Mexico. All his kids have college degrees, one is a multi-millionaire. Another is actually in other countries on the U.S. dime teaching and implementing a judicial system that more reflects ours. His grandkids include an Airforce Academy graduate, police officers, nurses, a special forces marine and working in the oil industry. In 2 generations this family went from being penniless to being quite successful.

Another aspect that makes our nation great is our religious freedom. If you've studied your history, a conclusion that I have reached is that the kings and rulers used religion as a source of power and control.

My grandfather told me in broken english when I graduated from college, "Son now that you have graduated you can do anything, you speak english, you have an education, the sky is the limit." The framers created a country where I was responsible for myself, and I would reap the rewards or consequences to my own actions. And this is what makes us great.

But anyway, that is my rambling.

I've been a U.S. Marine for almost 16 years now, and have had the opportunity to serve this country, travel the world, & experience the freedoms that we take for granted, that other countries don't have. As well, it's the diversity of our people that make America great:) America truly is the land of opportunity!

CAN'T FIND THE THANKS BUTTON ON YOUR POST STDREB27. SO THANKS I READ THIS POST TO MY WIFE AND AS I WAS READING IT I'M NOT AFRAID TO SAY IT CHOKED ME UP A LITTLE. THANKS

Canada is on the american continent, does that make me american ??

Anyways, I visit your beutiful country every year. I don't know much about the everyday details of how you live, but I can tell you the 1 thing that hits me everytime I visit the USA.

The people. Everytime I go there, I feel welcomed, I feel as if I'm one of the boys. I always enjoy it when people notice I'm not from the place & ask me where I'm from & try to pronounce the french name of my town. This can be trivial to some, but to me it shows respect, which I find amazing since all I did to get it was to visit you and return your warm smile.

Oh, and I love the fact that EVERYONE notices that I finish almost all my sentences with "Eh !", when I never noticed it before.

And I LOVE your microbrews.

I'm a Canadian that goes to the States quite a bit. The moment I cross the border, the feeling in the air changes almost immediately. As much as people like to complain, I get the sense that America is great in large part because of this feeling - the sense of freedom and that you can do anything you set your mind to.

The American Dream is still alive and well, and the sense that you can start a business or make something of yourself out of nothing is still prevalent. The entrepreneurial spirit abounds, and so does the self-responsibility for that. I think that's why Canadians feel so welcomed in the U.S., because merchants are actively TRYING to EARN your business (in Canada I get the sense that merchants feel customers should feel grateful for being allowed to shop there, but that's a different thread for a different day).

So what makes America great for me is the "take it by the scruff of the collar and do something with it" attitude of the best of its people (and yes, I know that there are lazy lay-abouts mixed in there too, but it's the sense that you CAN make something of yourself that I'm trying to convey).

I'm doing a terrible job of trying to convey this feeling I get - whether it's the freedom from over-cumbersome regulation, or whether it's the knowledge that nobody will take care of you but you, but the self-reliance is what makes America great, individually, and collectively.

Mark

I think one of my fellow countrymen said it best in 1973, actually.

Background
On June 5, 1973, Gordon Sinclair sat up in bed in Toronto and turned on his TV set. The United States had just pulled out of the Vietnamese War which had ended in a stalemate - a war fought daily on TV, over the radio and in the press. The aftermath of that war resulted in a world-wide sell-off of American investments, prices tumbled, the United States economy was in trouble. The war had also divided the American people, and at home and abroad it seemed everyone was lambasting the United States.

He turned on his radio, twisted the dial and turned it off. He picked up the morning paper. In print, he saw in headlines what he had found on TV and radio - the Americans were taking a verbal beating from nations around the world. Disgusted with what he saw and heard, he was outraged!

At 10:30, on his arrival at CFRB to prepare his two pre-noon broadcasts, he strode into his office and "dashed-off" two pages in 20 minutes for LET'S BE PERSONAL at 11:45 am, and then turned to writing his 11:50 newscast that was to follow. At 12:01 pm, the script for LET'S BE PERSONAL was dropped on the desk of his secretary who scanned the pages for a suitable heading and then wrote "Americans" across the top and filed it away. The phones were already ringing.

http://www.america.ameryka.org/sinclair.html
______________________________________
Transcript of Broadcast by Gordon Sinclair Top
Broadcast June 5, 1973
And later read into the Congressional Record several times

The United States dollar took another pounding on German, French and British exchanges this morning, hitting the lowest point ever known in West Germany. It has declined there by 41% since 1971 and this Canadian thinks it is time to speak up for the Americans as the most generous and possibly the least-appreciated people in all the earth.

As long as sixty years ago, when I first started to read newspapers, I read of floods on the Yellow River and the Yangtse. Who rushed in with men and money to help? The Americans did.

They have helped control floods on the Nile, the Amazon, the Ganges and the Niger. Today, the rich bottom land of the Mississippi is under water and no foreign land has sent a dollar to help. Germany, Japan and, to a lesser extent, Britain and Italy, were lifted out of the debris of war by the Americans who poured in billions of dollars and forgave other billions in debts. None of those countries is today paying even the interest on its remaining debts to the United States.

When the franc was in danger of collapsing in 1956, it was the Americans who propped it up and their reward was to be insulted and swindled on the streets of Paris. I was there. I saw it.

When distant cities are hit by earthquakes, it is the United States that hurries into help... Managua Nicaragua is one of the most recent examples. So far this spring, 59 American communities have been flattened by tornadoes. Nobody has helped.

The Marshall Plan .. the Truman Policy .. all pumped billions upon billions of dollars into discouraged countries. Now, newspapers in those countries are writing about the decadent war-mongering Americans.

I'd like to see one of those countries that is gloating over the erosion of the United States dollar build its own airplanes.

Come on... let's hear it! Does any other country in the world have a plane to equal the Boeing Jumbo Jet, the Lockheed Tristar or the Douglas 107? If so, why don't they fly them? Why do all international lines except Russia fly American planes? Why does no other land on earth even consider putting a man or women on the moon?

You talk about Japanese technocracy and you get radios. You talk about German technocracy and you get automobiles. You talk about American technocracy and you find men on the moon, not once, but several times ... and safely home again. You talk about scandals and the Americans put theirs right in the store window for everyone to look at. Even the draft dodgers are not pursued and hounded. They are here on our streets, most of them ... unless they are breaking Canadian laws .. are getting American dollars from Ma and Pa at home to spend here.

When the Americans get out of this bind ... as they will... who could blame them if they said 'the hell with the rest of the world'. Let someone else buy the Israel bonds, Let someone else build or repair foreign dams or design foreign buildings that won't shake apart in earthquakes.

When the railways of France, Germany and India were breaking down through age, it was the Americans who rebuilt them. When the Pennsylvania Railroad and the New York Central went broke, nobody loaned them an old caboose. Both are still broke. I can name to you 5,000 times when the Americans raced to the help of other people in trouble.

Can you name me even one time when someone else raced to the Americans in trouble? I don't think there was outside help even during the San Francisco earthquake.

Our neighbours have faced it alone and I am one Canadian who is damned tired of hearing them kicked around. They will come out of this thing with their flag high. And when they do, they are entitled to thumb their nose at the lands that are gloating over their present troubles.

I hope Canada is not one of these. But there are many smug, self-righteous Canadians. And finally, the American Red Cross was told at its 48th Annual meeting in New Orleans this morning that it was broke.

This year's disasters .. with the year less than half-over… has taken it all and nobody...but nobody... has helped.

ORIGINAL SCRIPT AND AUDIO
COURTESY STANDARD BROADCASTING CORPORATION LTD

The fact that we feel our freedom is a God given right and not one doled out by the Government...........and that we can a will fire politicians who break and stray from that sacred blood oath....

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Milton Man

I think one of my fellow countrymen said it best in 1973, actually.

Background
On June 5, 1973, Gordon Sinclair sat up in bed in Toronto and turned on his TV set. The United States had just pulled out of the Vietnamese War which had ended in a stalemate - a war fought daily on TV, over the radio and in the press. The aftermath of that war resulted in a world-wide sell-off of American investments, prices tumbled, the United States economy was in trouble. The war had also divided the American people, and at home and abroad it seemed everyone was lambasting the United States.

He turned on his radio, twisted the dial and turned it off. He picked up the morning paper. In print, he saw in headlines what he had found on TV and radio - the Americans were taking a verbal beating from nations around the world. Disgusted with what he saw and heard, he was outraged!

At 10:30, on his arrival at CFRB to prepare his two pre-noon broadcasts, he strode into his office and "dashed-off" two pages in 20 minutes for LET'S BE PERSONAL at 11:45 am, and then turned to writing his 11:50 newscast that was to follow. At 12:01 pm, the script for LET'S BE PERSONAL was dropped on the desk of his secretary who scanned the pages for a suitable heading and then wrote "Americans" across the top and filed it away. The phones were already ringing.

The Americans Gordon Sinclair
______________________________________
Transcript of Broadcast by Gordon Sinclair Top
Broadcast June 5, 1973
And later read into the Congressional Record several times

The United States dollar took another pounding on German, French and British exchanges this morning, hitting the lowest point ever known in West Germany. It has declined there by 41% since 1971 and this Canadian thinks it is time to speak up for the Americans as the most generous and possibly the least-appreciated people in all the earth.

As long as sixty years ago, when I first started to read newspapers, I read of floods on the Yellow River and the Yangtse. Who rushed in with men and money to help? The Americans did.

They have helped control floods on the Nile, the Amazon, the Ganges and the Niger. Today, the rich bottom land of the Mississippi is under water and no foreign land has sent a dollar to help. Germany, Japan and, to a lesser extent, Britain and Italy, were lifted out of the debris of war by the Americans who poured in billions of dollars and forgave other billions in debts. None of those countries is today paying even the interest on its remaining debts to the United States.

When the franc was in danger of collapsing in 1956, it was the Americans who propped it up and their reward was to be insulted and swindled on the streets of Paris. I was there. I saw it.

When distant cities are hit by earthquakes, it is the United States that hurries into help... Managua Nicaragua is one of the most recent examples. So far this spring, 59 American communities have been flattened by tornadoes. Nobody has helped.

The Marshall Plan .. the Truman Policy .. all pumped billions upon billions of dollars into discouraged countries. Now, newspapers in those countries are writing about the decadent war-mongering Americans.

I'd like to see one of those countries that is gloating over the erosion of the United States dollar build its own airplanes.

Come on... let's hear it! Does any other country in the world have a plane to equal the Boeing Jumbo Jet, the Lockheed Tristar or the Douglas 107? If so, why don't they fly them? Why do all international lines except Russia fly American planes? Why does no other land on earth even consider putting a man or women on the moon?

You talk about Japanese technocracy and you get radios. You talk about German technocracy and you get automobiles. You talk about American technocracy and you find men on the moon, not once, but several times ... and safely home again. You talk about scandals and the Americans put theirs right in the store window for everyone to look at. Even the draft dodgers are not pursued and hounded. They are here on our streets, most of them ... unless they are breaking Canadian laws .. are getting American dollars from Ma and Pa at home to spend here.

When the Americans get out of this bind ... as they will... who could blame them if they said 'the hell with the rest of the world'. Let someone else buy the Israel bonds, Let someone else build or repair foreign dams or design foreign buildings that won't shake apart in earthquakes.

When the railways of France, Germany and India were breaking down through age, it was the Americans who rebuilt them. When the Pennsylvania Railroad and the New York Central went broke, nobody loaned them an old caboose. Both are still broke. I can name to you 5,000 times when the Americans raced to the help of other people in trouble.

Can you name me even one time when someone else raced to the Americans in trouble? I don't think there was outside help even during the San Francisco earthquake.

Our neighbours have faced it alone and I am one Canadian who is damned tired of hearing them kicked around. They will come out of this thing with their flag high. And when they do, they are entitled to thumb their nose at the lands that are gloating over their present troubles.

I hope Canada is not one of these. But there are many smug, self-righteous Canadians. And finally, the American Red Cross was told at its 48th Annual meeting in New Orleans this morning that it was broke.

This year's disasters .. with the year less than half-over… has taken it all and nobody...but nobody... has helped.

ORIGINAL SCRIPT AND AUDIO
COURTESY STANDARD BROADCASTING CORPORATION LTD

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This is a well written article.
What I need to say is that I think in the last 200 years when the US needed an Ally, the people of Canada and the people of the UK were there for us. Please don't under estimate the importance of the relationship between the US, UK and Canada. My example of this is the Canadians and British on Gold, Juno and Sword and the US on Utah and Omaha.

I don't think we will ever thumb our noses at Canada or the UK.

I have visited the states, I have some friends over there, my late father was a POW in WW2, hitched a ride on Pattens' tank column, and was well looked after by a tank crew.
I like your sense of freedom and independance, you get off your own arses and make it happen, you don't whine for the government to do it for you !! Youre people are just great !!

cheers:beer2:

I don't know who Gordon Sinclair is or was but he seems to have ignored the UK completely. We have have certainly done our best to stick by the Americans, realising of course, that they have always done the same for us.
When you consider the size, population and natural resources of the USA compared to Britain, size for size, the Brits have always punched above their weight.

The UK has declined markedly over the past 30 years but in our time we have certainly built some good aircraft, trains and automobiles. Some of them, dare I say it, better than the ones made in the USA.
We made some good razors as well.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by welshwizard

I don't know who Gordon Sinclair is or was but he seems to have ignored the UK completely. We have have certainly done our best to stick by the Americans, realising of course, that they have always done the same for us.
When you consider the size, population and natural resources of the USA compared to Britain, size for size, the Brits have always punched above their weight.

The UK has declined markedly over the past 30 years but in our time we have certainly built some good aircraft, trains and automobiles. Some of them, dare I say it, better than the ones made in the USA.
We made some good razors as well.

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I think Mr. Sinclair's point was to say that the america bashing that was going on back then (and still is now, but that's a different story...) wasn't right & I don't think talking about the UK would have been relevant to get his point accross. It doesn't mean he didn't think hightly of the UK.

I feel one of the things that makes America Great is that the Individual has so much Worth that he has the right to take arms against threats to his Life or Freedom, which are the same thing to Americans. Live Free or Die.