I was recently challenged during an online debate to list five reasons I believe America is uniquely great. This is what I replied with:
The most obvious must be the founders' understanding of human nature and human history so they knew how to craft their founding documents, and supporting documents, to best prevent a government from going down the natural path of starting out, or become, too centralized and powerful. They knew the best chance at success in securing liberty, property rights, etc. meant limiting the federal government to specific enumerated powers, hence the Bill of Rights. They knew the real power belongs to the states and their citizens for they elect their representatives to the seats of power in DC and elsewhere and they serve the will of their constituents, not the other way around. This is why the Electoral College exists as it does.
Second is probably the 2nd Amendment, without which no others can truly be ensured. The writings of the day clearly state the expectations were for weapons to exist in the hands, and be at the disposal, of American citizens if they wanted them, hence the "keep and bear arms" phrase. Again, the founders knew human nature and history and knew defense of self and country required citizens to be armed as they saw fit. Per nature, the founders also knew weapons would become ever more advanced but there is no reason to believe they would change their amendment to account for today's weaponry. The fact guns protect countless lives every day, and not just against others with guns, is perhaps the most obvious explanation for why the uniqueness of the 2nd Amendment is what contributes to making America great.
Third is probably the unparalleled generosity of the American people, especially our willingness to fight tyranny, oppression, etc. around the world despite often never expecting anything in return. We saw this in Korea, Vietnam, Bosnia and elsewhere where those freed people had nothing of worth (natural resources, money, etc.) to pay for our efforts. Also, our military exists to defend not only our citizens but those of our allies. Without US influence, is there any doubt the world would be a much different place, and not in a good way? How many great world or regional powers in human history did not seek to overtake their neighbors and/or forcefully create outposts to project their influence? The US does not want to go to war but God help you if you want to fight, just like the Israelis. Our public generosity extends domestically, of course, as well but this is long enough already.
Fourth: Despite being an atheist, I clearly believe in, understand and appreciate the Judeo-Christian value system our country was founded on. This does not at all mean I think religion was, or should be, the foundation of our government and the writings of the day are crystal clear on this. Perhaps only an English language requirement as an official language should have been enshrined in the US Constitution, if anything, but that is for another debate. However, there is no doubt this religion and morality were bedrocks of the founding documents hence "Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other" from John Adams and the Declaration's "endowed by our creator", among countless other examples.
Fifth: Perhaps last in this list, which could certainly go on much longer, is our freedom of innovation and entrepreneurship, which is directly tied to our 1st Amendment. Who else has more Nobel Prizes? There has never been another place on the planet where people have gone to such great lengths to cross our borders in search of unmatched liberty, opportunity, adventure, etc.. Our markets are the envy of the world and being successful in the US in pretty much anything (industry, sports, entertainment, etc.) means unparalleled opportunities at wealth and influence.
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