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Austin; I am 20 years old and in my second year of college as a history major, and I plan to go on and earn my MBA. I totally agree with you when I hear you say on the radio that America is a great nation. Unfortunately, at my school I have encountered plenty of the liberal bias that I have heard you talk about, and there is alot of "America hating" at my school, too. I know I have heard you explain that there are philosophical reasons for this bias, and I have only begun to understand that aspect of it. But the worst part of this for me is that my own Dad is alot like the professors at my school - - he thinks that America is a unjust place to live, and that America does more harm to the world that it does good. How can I get my Dad to see the light, to realize how fortunate we all are to live here, and to see that America does great things for the world? Devon, Reno, NV Devon; I don't think you should make it your goal to get your Dad to "see the light." He may never change his mind about these things, and that is okay. This is one of the things that makes America great - - we are all free to think and believe as we see fit, even if are thoughts and beliefs are false. However, just as you probably already do with your professors, I think it is important for you to have a response to your Dad's claims, and be prepared to offer your response. To that end, I would encourage you to "do your homework" - - and I by this I don't mean simply to complete the coursework assigned to you in class and get good grades. Make it your mission to do your own study, and read up on this amazing phenomena called the United States. If you're majoring in history, you are obviously being exposed to many details of other cultures and societies. But one of the most extraordinary and unique things about the U.S. - - one of the things that makes it stand out from other nations and civilizations - -is its ability to protect and sustain individual human liberty. The United States is not perfect on this matter (no nation is perfect), but our country has sutained individual liberty better than any other nation, past or present. This point is overlooked by many people, but it is profoundly important nonetheless. And from the reservoir of human liberty eminate America's greatest strengths - - its economic power, its charity and generosity, its ability to extend opportunity to its citizens, and its willingness to defend liberty when it is under attack. I would suggest that you get acquainted with an organization called Liberty Fund. Begun by a business entreprenuer who was concerned that Americans might someday forget the ideals upon which the country was founded, Liberty Fund is a non-profit group here in the U.S. that is entirely devoted to educating people about the concept of liberty.You can find them on-line at www.libertyfund.org Another group with a similar mission is The Acton Institute, at www.acton.org Check out the many reading materials available from these organizations, start reading, and allow yourself to become "grounded" in the basics of liberty. That is the starting point for offering an intelligent explanation and defense of the United States. One other note about your Dad, AND your professors. I suspect they have plenty to say about America's faults and failings. Certainly the United States has, at times, failed to act justly, both with its own residents and with people of other nations. But when compared to other countries and civilizations, the United States has a track record for which we can all be thankful.
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