America was great because, like any great country, her citizens were great. Freedom allowed them to be inventive and ambitious. It allowed many to "start over", that is, to re-invent themselves. It allowed us to not be bound by mistakes of the past. We could correct wrongs and change when we needed to.

From its beginning Americans trusted one another. They laid their very lives on the line for each other. They recognized that the ideals they ascribed to were bigger than the man. They were honest. They dealt fairly and honestly with each other.

Yes, there were those who didn't. There always are but, as they were exposed, they were dealt with using the laws of the land (for the most part) but we 're discussing greatness here so let's not dwell on the less-than-great aspects.

"Was"? America WAS great?

Then there arose a generation who did not know the LORD or fear His laws. Neither did they call upon His name.

Uh, that would be my generation. All we saw was the not-so-great stuff. The hypocrisy and corruption. Racism, corporate greed and a bourgeois mindless adherence to an ideal who's time had come and gone. Power to the people! Free love! Legalize drugs. Turn on, tune in, drop out. We will fix what is WRONG with America. America is wrong with America! etc.

As you know, that struggle stills goes on today. You see it in these threads moment by moment.

"We're poor little sheep who have lost our way, bah, bah, bah! We're poor little sheep who have gone astray, bah, bah, bah!"