The idea that America ought to be made great again is oftentimes challenged by the assertion that America has never been great. While this stance could hold if the tenants of our modern moral paradigm are applied to the past, we must understand that doing so would be erroneous. Greatness is an exercise in relativity, as we determine what is great through the comparison of an entity to its contemporaries. Since its inception, America has always been one of the greatest nations on earth. We sparked the flame of Western liberty, pioneered transnational diplomatic cooperation and spearheaded decolonization in wake of the Second World War. Though America has never been perfect, we’ve always been a heck of a lot better than pretty much everyone else.
Robert Schmad (23C) is from Kennewick, Wash.
