[nyconse]

This is a great read. Americans are not always born in this country. We are truly blessed by the arrival of those who choose to love America.

[liberallarry]

D'Souza's always good. A very intelligent guy. But why the excerpt? Why not post the whole article?

[The Great RJ]

Like my father said---"people don't realize how good they have it in the USA."

[jla]

Americans are not always born in this country

Excellent point.

[Bug]

"medieval Islam" is redundant.

[visualops]

"In spite of its flaws, however, American life as it is lived today is the best life that our world has to offer. Ultimately America is worthy of our love and sacrifice because, more than any other society, it makes possible the good life, and the life that is good. "


Bears repeating.

[jla]

Redeeming article from D'Souza, and refreshing catharsis from the vile Clinton's. :^)

[radical librarian]

Saving for later read

[Brian Allen]

<< This is a great read. Americans are not always born in this country. We are truly blessed by the arrival of those who choose to love America. >>

I'll say we are!

If you're asking me where I was born, I was born in New Zealand.

But if you want to know who and what I am, I am AMERICAN!

Thank God!

[henderson field]

Who are they?

[henderson field]

"...the arrival of those who choose to love America." Who are they?

[ricpic]

I only wish that the political class (both parties) heeded George Washington's admonition to avoid foreign entanglements. I realize that this thread is not about whether America is or is not an empire. I fear that if we do become an empire we will become less and less the country that D'Souza celebrates. In empires, historically, vigorous political debate is supplanted by executive dictat. And that dictat eventually seeps into civil life. Congress has already pretty much ceded the running of the war on terror to the executive. Domestically we are more and more at the mercy of judges who make or unmake law based on no more than personal whim (which they call the General Will). The government under both Democrats and Republicans keeps "growing itself" at the expense of the people. How really vigorous is representative democracy?

[sandlady]

-- America has gone further than any other society in establishing equality of rights. There is nothing distinctively American about slavery or bigotry. Slavery has existed in virtually every culture, and xenophobia, prejudice and discrimination are worldwide phenomena. Western civilization is the only civilization to mount a principled campaign against slavery; no country expended more treasure and blood to get rid of slavery than the United States. While racism remains a problem, this country has made strenuous efforts to eradicate discrimination, even to the extent of enacting policies that give legal preference in university admissions, jobs, and government contracts to members of minority groups. Such policies remain controversial, but the point is that it is extremely unlikely that a racist society would have permitted such policies in the first place. And surely African Americans like Jesse Jackson are vastly better off living in America than they would be if they were to live in, say, Ethiopia or Somalia.

This is a perfect point. I intended to highlight the best statements and ended up highlighting nearly the whole thing! LOL

[steplock]

	What's So Great About America Category : Non-Fiction Author : Dinesh D'Souza ISBN : 0142003018
	Description : Look again at the title of this book: it's not a question, but a statement. "America is the greatest, freest, and most decent society in existence. American life as it is lived today [is] the best life that our world has to offer."

[Uncle Hal]

The question in my mind is how did this article get in the ultra liberal rag,The SF Chronicle? When I saw it I could not beleive it. The Chronicle is virtually a house organ for the Dems and is generally down on anything pro American.

[nothingnew]

America provides an amazingly good life for the ordinary guy. Rich people live well everywhere. But what distinguishes America is that it provides an impressively high standard of living for the "common man."

Excellent point. These 3 sentences sum up why so many hate US, IMHO.

FMCDH

[Jonx6]

4th of July bump

[americanbychoice1]

I was born and raised in the land of the Krauts. I am proud of my country, America and will celebrate her birthday along with all the other Americans. I have lived and worked all over the world,I am now retired and I also do not believe in being a hyphenated American either.
Scanning the German Papers today, there is not a word about our great Holiday. They are more interested in their sex Scandals than honoring the greatest Country on the face of the Earth. Oh well.... let themdrown in Socialism and self Importance.
Happy Birthday America.