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New York Times Magazine
August 18, 2020

Seventy-Five Years Of American Progress

"Our World is Today One of Unrivalled Peace, Prosperity and Happiness." These were the words of President Barack Obama, speaking at the rededication of the WWII memorial in Tokyo, Japan, but he could have been saying that about his own country. Mind you, few with any sense would argue that Japan is one of the world's most prosperous nations, but when people talk about nations that have reached the greatest of heights of prosperity and happiness, there is but one nation which is most of the time mentioned in such a statement. And that is indeed the United States of America.

And yet, one does not have to look hard to see that it could have been very different. But what has guided this nation and its three hundred and seventy million residents is both great men and solid principles, a willingness to experiment, learn, ask questions and look out both for ourselves and our fellow man, creating a ground where all of us could rise from any depth and become whatever we seek, given the willingness to do so. As it was said so eloquently by Senator DeGrasse Tyson, we "Choose to build on our knowledge, fording into the depths of ignorance and darkness, not at all afraid to admit what we do not know. There is no shame in that. The only shame is to pretend we have all of the answers."

Indeed, one may say that the story began seventy-five years ago today....
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