JT wrote:I do respect Europe (including the UK) in many ways, and am proud of my Irish/Scottish heritage. The US and Western Europe are really the same thing to a large extent. But all in all I really think I was very lucky to have been born in the 20th century in what I subjectively think (and could effectively argue objectively I think) is the greatest nation in the history of the planet.
...and I wondered, does anyone else agree with this? I think an argument can certainly be made for the last 200 years or so but in the 'history of the planet'?
I'm currently looking out of my window at work at York Minster (it looks great lit up at night), a building upon which construction finished 20 years before Columbus set sail for the New World. I suppose what I'm saying is that an awful lot of history took place before America became anything like a powerful nation. During the 19th century the British Empire covered a quarter of the globe; the Roman Empire lasted centuries and (bloodshed aside ) brought many developments to parts of the world that previously had none. I'm sure there are many more examples of nations/civilisations that can claim to be the 'greatest in history'.
So there we go. Putting bias to one side does anyone agree with JT's statement that America is the greatest nation in the history of the planet?