Men, like nations, often perceive themselves as timeless. What person in their 20s or 30s doesn’t harbor a subconscious belief in their own immortality? In the bloom of youth, an everlasting summer seems to beckon. Yet, as one approaches 70, evasion of reality becomes harder, especially with the loss of friends and loved ones.
Nations, too, experience seasons of their own. Consider a Roman from the 2nd century pondering an empire that sprawled from Britain to the Near East, entertaining the notion that it would endure forever. In truth, “forever” spanned approximately 500 years, give or take – a notable run, albeit one that eventually faded into history.
France held pivotal influence in the 17th and 18th centuries, only to gradually transition into a part of the Muslim ummah in the present day. Similarly, the British Empire once boasted an empire where the sun never set during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Today, Albion resides in perpetual twilight, with its 96-year-old sovereign emblematic of a nation undergoing terminal decline.
During the 1980s, Japan appeared poised to reshape the world, with its management techniques even being taught in business schools. Yet, its low birth rate and rapidly aging population have given rise to an industry focused on tending to the remains of elderly Japanese who pass away in solitude.
I came into this world in the 1940s, nearly at the midpoint of the 20th century – what some call the American century. The United States enjoyed unparalleled prestige and influence during this era. Thanks to the valor of the ‘Greatest Generation,’ we emerged victorious from a global conflict that spanned Europe, Asia, and the Pacific. Our triumph reduced Germany to ruins and subdued the rising sun. This victory paved the way for almost five decades of remarkable prosperity.
We effectively contained the spread of communism across Europe and Asia, while also combating international terrorism. We undertook the task of rebuilding former foes and generously providing foreign aid to numerous nations. We constructed towering skyscrapers and sent rockets to the moon. Our triumph over polio was followed by our current battle against COVID-19. We delved into the mysteries of the universe and unlocked the marvels of DNA – the blueprint of life itself.
But where does the former glory of Rome now reside? The United States, too, has transitioned from a predominantly free-market economy to a more socialistic approach – a strategy that has met with limited success worldwide. Our political landscape has shifted from a constitutional republic guided by a firm foundation to one marked by a revolving elite. With each passing year, our freedoms diminish. The emergence of cancel culture serves as a precursor to a potential era of tyranny. We’ve swapped the ideals of the American Revolution for the upheaval of a Cultural Revolution.
The current occupant of the White House appears as a mere vessel manipulated by his advisors. At the G-7 Summit, ‘Dr. Jill’ seemingly led him like a child. In 1961, both our leadership and nation were vigorous. Today, however, an aging country is led by its oldest-ever president.
We find ourselves unable to secure our borders, protect our history (including monuments that commemorate past achievements), or maintain order on our streets. Our cities have devolved into playgrounds for anarchists. A land that once prided itself on self-reliance now houses a population increasingly dependent on aid, while homeless veterans take shelter on the streets and undocumented immigrants are provided hotel accommodations.
Even the President of the United States struggles to accurately recall the opening lines of the Declaration of Independence (‘You know – The Thing’). Graduates from Ivy League institutions frequently fail history assessments that elementary school students from a generation ago would pass with ease. Crime rates surge, and we hastily attribute the situation to the Second Amendment, all while reducing police budgets.
Our culture has plunged into madness, with concepts like men identifying as women and efforts to combat racism taking the form of convincing members of one race of their inherent evil and others of their perpetual victimhood. An alarming sentiment was expressed by a psychiatrist lecturing at Yale, who openly fantasized about harming white individuals.
In the name of freedom, we terminate the lives of the unborn, even as our birth rate continues to decline. Our national debt has escalated to such proportions that the prospect of repayment becomes increasingly implausible. It stands as a $37 trillion monument to our imprudent financial practices and refusal to confront reality. Our so-called ‘entertainment’ is characterized by sadism and nihilism, as enduring as a candy wrapper thrown into the trash. Our music often falls within the spectrum of irritating to repugnant.
Patriotism is labeled an insurrection, treason is celebrated, and perversion is sanctified. A police officer garners less respect than an individual attired in non-conforming clothing. We task our soldiers with defending a nation whose leaders no longer exhibit belief in its principles, while a significant portion of the population submits passively to a regimen of face masks, lockdowns, and hand sanitizers, symbolizing the waning American spirit.
The question lingers: how do nations transition from greatness to obscurity?
- Engaging in endless wars without clear victory objectives
- Amassing an insurmountable debt exceeding their capacity to repay
- Neglecting the protection of borders, resulting in an influx of foreign elements
- Surrendering urban control to mob rule
- Allowing the indoctrination of young minds
- Acceptance in our public schools to feed LGBTQxyz propaganda to our children
- Shifting from a republican governmental structure to an oligarchy where one party is exempt from most illegal activities
- Losing a distinctive national identity
- Succumbing to indolence
- Forsaking faith and family – the cornerstones of social order
- Allowing our legal system to weaponize itself against the public
In the United States, every one of these symptoms is manifest, indicative of an advanced stage of decline. While the prognosis may appear bleak, don’t we owe it to those who sacrificed greatly to grant us the legacy we inherited? I’m surrounded by the echoes of the past: the Union soldiers who stood firm at Gettysburg, the stalwarts of Bastogne, the veterans who braved the harshness of Korea, and those who endured the jungles of Southeast Asia only to be met with scorn upon their return.
This nation embraced my immigrant grandparents, and my father, along with most of my uncles, donned its uniform during World War II. The thought of a world bereft of America troubles me deeply, even though such a reality seems increasingly plausible.
During the bleakest hours of Britain’s history, when its professional army faced entrapment at Dunkirk and a German invasion appeared imminent, Churchill reminded his countrymen, ‘Nations that confront their downfall with resistance shall rise anew, while those that surrender without resistance are destined for oblivion.’
The same sentiment applies to causes. Should we permit America to slip through our grasp, surrendering without a fight, how will posterity judge us? While hope may seem scarce, we possess an obligation to honor the sacrifices of those who bequeathed us this legacy. I am moved by the presence of countless spirits urging me on the Union soldiers who defended Cemetery Ridge, the resilient fighters of Bastogne, those who served in the harsh cold of Korea, and the individuals who ventured into the Southeast Asian jungles only to return to indifference.
This nation sheltered my immigrant forebears, and its uniform adorned my father and uncles as they fought in World War II. I cannot bear to envision a world void of America, even as the prospect looms larger.
In the face of adversity, during Britain’s darkest hours, Churchill offered his countrymen a powerful reminder: ‘Nations that rise to challenge their decline will find resurgence, whereas those that yield passively are fated to vanish.’
The same holds true for the causes we champion. If we allow America to slip from our grasp without resistance, how will history remember us? Despite the daunting circumstances, we hold an undeniable obligation to the memory of those who sacrificed so much to bestow upon us the legacy we have inherited.
I am surrounded by the echoes of those who came before: the Union soldiers who held their ground at Gettysburg, the tenacious defenders of Bastogne, the brave souls who weathered the harshness of Korea, and the veterans of the Southeast Asian jungles who returned to ambivalence. This is the nation that provided solace to my immigrant grandparents, whose uniform my father and uncles wore during World War II. I shudder at the thought of a world devoid of America, though the possibility draws nearer.
When Britain faced its darkest hours, trapped soldiers at Dunkirk, and the specter of a German invasion loomed, Churchill resolutely told his countrymen, ‘Nations that resist their decline will rise again, while those that surrender meekly are destined to fade away.’
The same wisdom applies to the causes we champion. If we permit America to slip through our fingers without a fight, how will we be remembered by future generations? Despite the challenges, we have a duty to honor the sacrifices of those who paved the way for the legacy we’ve inherited.
Author Unknown