As Americans enjoyed their Fourth of July celebrations, with activities such as baseball, fireworks, and Joey Chestnut dominating in the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest, Uncle Sam couldn’t help but feel beleaguered and under siege. Reports over the holiday weekend revealed that Americans were growing increasingly skeptical about the future of their country and felt less patriotic. The majority, around 74%, believed that America was headed in the wrong direction, and many dreaded the upcoming presidential rematch that seemed unavoidable.
Uncle Sam, in a metaphorical sense, longs for a modern-day Atticus Finch, someone who can effectively argue his case before the American people. Unfortunately, he is left to face this challenging situation without such an advocate. The usual defenders of all things American, who used to speak passionately in support of Uncle Sam, are now scattered in disarray due to the chaotic era of Trumpism. Despite the Capitol riot and a barrage of indictments, these individuals unconditionally align themselves with Donald Trump, attacking the very same American institutions that conservatives once defended against real or imagined adversaries, whether it be the anti-war protestors or Communist threats.
With Trumpism, conservatives are experiencing their own “hippie” moment, turning against American institutions. On the other side, the opposing counsel is filled with progressive politicians, left-wing think tank representatives, and journalists who find it more comfortable to prosecute claims against American greed, U.S. imperialism, and ruling-class dominance rather than mounting robust defenses of America. Rallying around the flag is often seen as cliché or out of touch with the mindset of Berkeley barbecues and East Hampton clambakes. So, Uncle Sam plods through another scorching July, enduring the incessant poking and prodding from politicos of all stripes.
It is interesting to note the shift in dynamics. Liberals, who once attacked the top brass of the Pentagon, now watch as Republican members of Congress enamor themselves with Russia’s military might, while denigrating U.S. generals and the men and women in uniform. These GOP attacks persist even though America’s military strength today surpasses any other period since World War II.
Unlike the past, American allies no longer express dissatisfaction with the U.S. taking a backseat or locking itself into an inward-looking stance under the banner of “America First.” Instead, the U.S. plays a leading role in a dynamic and expanding NATO alliance, which recently welcomed a new member with a lengthy border shared with Russia. NATO has demonstrated a powerful response to Vladimir Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine.
Turning towards Asia, the United States has finally begun pivoting its focus in that region. Military cooperation with Japan, the Philippines, Guam, South Korea, and Australia has strengthened. The current tensions in U.S.-China relations may have less to do with spy balloons or diplomatic missteps and more to do with Xi Jinping’s rational fear of being encircled by an increasingly robust U.S. military presence around the South China Sea.
President Joe Biden’s recent diplomatic efforts towards India were also calculated to contain China’s regional ambitions. That being said, the recent U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan stands as a significant geopolitical failure. Nevertheless, this move was promised by the past three presidents and supported by 70% of Americans before the evacuation. Even after the chaos unfolded in Kabul, most Americans affirmed their support for Biden’s decision to withdraw troops after two decades. It’s safe to say that no one in Moscow or Beijing is still fixated on recent events to justify the Republican talking point that our armed forces are “woke” and “weak.”
As we shift focus to the right’s uproar over “woke” culture, the Republican Party’s attacks against American colleges and universities reek of hypocrisy. The tables have turned ideologically. In the past, it was leftist radicals who caused unrest on campuses, targeting university presidents’ offices. Now, Trump-supporting conservatives passionately wage war against the very same elite institutions they once proudly graduated from not too long ago.
But let’s give these conservative hypocrites their due credit. Their pride on graduation day was well-founded. American colleges and universities consistently top world rankings for the best educational institutions. This is precisely why influential political and business leaders from around the world continue to send their children to American universities. They understand that when it comes to higher education, the United States reigns supreme.
All the anti-American rhetoric propagated by Trump supporters can become tiresome. However, bear with me, as there is much more to be said in defense of America.
Childhood poverty has reached its lowest level on record, as has teenage pregnancy. The U.S. dollar has reached significant highs over the past year, and unemployment recently hit a 54-year low. Additionally, the number of job openings has also reached record highs. Despite dire predictions from economists, the U.S. economy continues to surge forward. Its GDP soared to $25 trillion last year, surpassing the size of Russia’s economy. Furthermore, California, despite regular rebukes from right-wing critics, boasts the fourth-strongest economy in the world, outranking Britain, France, Canada, and India. The United States, along with its European allies, runs an economic machine that doubles China’s stagnant output. Despite record debt levels, inflation concerns, and other structural challenges, American capitalism thrives, driving and dominating the global economy.
Certainly, the United States is not without its challenges. Like any powerful nation, it has its fair share of political and moral shortcomings. The Declaration of Independence, written by a slaveholder, remains a poignant example. The government has yet to truly address its debts to Native Americans, and Supreme Court rulings and extreme state legislation have shattered women’s control over their reproductive rights.
However, it is important to remember that American democracy swiftly responded to the threat of overturning Roe v. Wade, resulting in right-wing defeats in red states such as Kansas, Kentucky, and Wisconsin. The political backlash against the demolition of Roe has been so substantial that even Ann Coulter and The Wall Street Journal editorial page now find fault with the GOP’s extreme stance on abortion.
When President Abraham Lincoln emancipated millions of enslaved Americans in 1863, he drew upon the same principles outlined in the Declaration of Independence, which Martin Luther King Jr. referred to as “a promissory note” to all Americans.
James Madison, another slaveholder, authored the Constitution with checks and balances that empowered the same high court that struck down Roe to stand against Donald Trump’s most autocratic plans. As politically disorienting as it may seem following the unraveling of Roe and affirmative action, the Roberts Court prevented Trump from stealing the 2020 presidential election and is now allowing criminal cases against him to proceed.
Yes, a comprehensive defense of Uncle Sam often requires dialectical thinking. However, despite all its flaws, America has fed and liberated more human beings than any other country in history. And contrary to the constant barrage of negativity spewed on cable news channels, your country is actually doing quite well.
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