Depends on how you look at it, GUEST. The USA was founded on both noble and vicious concepts...fresh new ideas about the equality and natural rights of men (if not women)...said ideas having been largely inspired by and borrowed from the Native people whom the genocide was practiced upon. New ideas about representative government as opposed to old bloodline monarchies...said representation being restricted to wealthier white males, of course. A vibrant spirit of mercantile expansion which rapidly built a tremendously effective and aggressive society...which has been a severe peril to its nearer and farther neighbours ever since.

It all depends what angle you observe it from, but for the time when it occurred it was a pretty progressive movement. Still, I like Canada's line of social-philosophical development a lot better. It's much more peaceful. And that speaks well for the British tradition...a monarchy which transformed itself rationally and peacefully into a parliamentary democracy. It's a pity King George IIIrd was such an incompetent putz or there might never have been an American Revolution.

My personal opinion is that the USA has always been a bit mad. It was born out of conflict, and it persists in conflict. "the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air" Never has there been a great nation with a more aggressive martial spirit.

- LH