It is Time For America To Accept The Role of World Leader

We Americans are having a hard time accepting the fact that this country has been handed the mantle as the leader of the free world. All the way up to World War II the United States stood isolated from the rest of the world be oceans and by attitude. The only real war fought on American soil after 1812 was the Civil War, when we fought each other. We were thrust into World War II well after Europe was being run over by Hitler, and after Japan was destroying China. And after we won World War II we stood firm against another dictator, another challenge to our safety, the USSR. When Communism and the USSR collapsed, we figured America could relax. There was, we thought, no reason for the United States to do anything other than help the poor nations and downtrodden people of the world.

But one of the key lessons of history is that if we are to live in a civilized world, somebody is expected to lead, and if the decent nations that are in a leadership position leave a void, and do not step up and accept that responsibility, then by default leadership will be handed to the bullies of the world ... to a Hitler or an Al Quida or a Saddam Hussein.

It seems fair to say we have a hard time accepting this idea that the United States is now the dominant leader of the free world. But that is where we are, and the question is this: do we accept the responsibility that has been handed us, or do we allow civilization to be guided by the political psychopaths of the world. America is now the world's greatest nation. We have been handed a great opportunity and a greater responsibility. I think it is time we step up and accept the role of world leader.

This is Gordon Sawyer, and may the wind always be at your back.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2003/3/182439