What defines greatness in a nation?
According to HBO’s “The Newsroom,” written by Aaron Sorkin, greatness is defined by statistics, figures and measurements of society as a whole. However, I argue that the greatness of a nation lies in its virtues, not its statistics. The setting of the discussed episode is a question and answer symposium, and the context is a sophomore girl in college asking three panelists why America is the greatest nation in the world.
A YouTube video featuring a clip from the show has gone viral. In the clip, called “The most honest three minutes of television,” three panelists are posed with an interesting question.
An interesting question, but one I could not help but think was very subjective. The first panelist says diversity and opportunity. The third panelist responds by saying that freedom is what makes America the greatest.
Then, the second panelist, a news anchor named Will McAvoy, is called to answer. With a sarcastic tone, he replies, “The New York Jets.”
Laughter is heard throughout the gathering as he grins at the audience. However, the host professor keeps McAvoy accountable and holds him to an honest answer. McAvoy accepts the professor’s gauntlet, pauses, and for the next minute, the news anchor goes on a tirade of statistics proving why America is no longer the greatest nation in the world. McAvoy quotes such figures as being seventh in literacy, 27th in math, 22nd in science, 49th in life expectancy.
The cherry-picked numbers are indeed saddening. Our education system needs to be looked at with a critical eye, and hardworking values need to be encouraged. However, there is such an abundance of statistics that one could easily find other facts to refute these.
Facts and figures are all well and good, but it comes down to the individual. I believe the greatness of a nation is defined not by its credentials but by its convictions, the core values that hold a nation together and define it. It is the bedrock of a country, the substance that makes it what it is: a nation.
Sadly, our footing is becoming unstable as our foundation starts to shift. The very values that formed this nation into existence are being challenged by those who believe that the idea of the American Dream is no more than an illusion of pride and arrogance. Yet, some still hold true to the values and ideas to which our forefathers held fast.
America has been and will continue to be great. The freedoms we enjoy and the democracy which has served our nation will prosper so long as we hold each other accountable and stand for the beliefs of our great nation.
There will always be people who will speak out and voice their minds. They will try to dissuade the people and convince them that our best days are behind us. They will say we are no longer the land of opportunity, that Old Glory is old news. Thanks to our freedoms, they have every right to say what they will. This is part of what makes us great.