America is being confronted with the same question that stood before Benjamin Franklin throughout the Constitutional Convention: is our’s a rising or a setting sun?
Today, pessimists see the sun setting, symbolizing the beginning stages of America’s sharp and inevitable decline.
To optimists, however, America’s sun is rising and will soon wipe away the passing fog of national malaise.
At present, the pessimists are certainly the larger group. A recent Gallup survey showed 82 percent of Americans believe the nation is going in the wrong direction.
Indeed, there are many aspects of America’s current trajectory that are troubling and which pessimists use to justify their gloomy view of a setting sun.
America’s infrastructure is becoming increasingly decrepit: the national debt is at $17 trillion and rising, American students are performing poorly compared to their peers abroad, and political dysfunction is hindering any attempt at meaningful reform or restoration.
Thus, it appears that Americans are justified in their pessimism. With a situation so melancholy, one must wonder how the few optimists defend their view of a rising sun.
Optimists never fail to point out that America has survived adversity before. They admit America’s challenges are great but believe we will overcome them just as we always have.
America has endured British invasion, survived the ravages and divisions of the Civil War, defeated Japan and staged the D-Day invasion in World War II. America went to the moon and outlasted the Soviets during the Cold War. After terrorists destroyed American skyscrapers in the tragedy of 9/11, New York City witnessed the construction of One World Trade Center – the tallest tower in the Western Hemisphere.
Therefore, optimists see America as more than capable of overcoming the current challenges of massive debt, poor education, crippled infrastructure and political paralysis. We have been through tough times before.
But it is blithe to say that simply because America has “done it before,” we will “do it again.”
America’s achievements have indeed been great, but any unexceptional history student can see that those achievements were only reached through arduous work and wise governance.
It was through Abraham Lincoln’s admirable and courageous leadership that the United States survived the Civil War. Likewise, Dwight Eisenhower’s careful strategy and planning were required for a D-Day success.
I see both American pessimists and optimists as having flawed thought processes. The decline of American power and vitality is not fore-ordained, nor is the continuation of American superiority absolutely secure.
The dreary pessimists should realize their gloomy outlook stifles the creation of a much-need strategic vision. They should also recognize America’s proven ability to overcome challenges.
Optimists, on the other hand, should cease their annoying cheeriness, appreciate the depth of America’s difficulties and understand the fulfillment of their expectations require persistent effort and judicious leadership.
We know Benjamin Franklin decided America’s sun was rising in 1787. My message 226 years after Franklin’s prophecies is this: America’s proverbial sun will rise only if there are those extraordinary persons willing to toil in the heat and disarray so it may be hoisted up for the entire world to enjoy.
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