Well, actually, intruder there's a lot more to it than the triumph of white-european descended males. America is the greatest collection of polyglot races and nationalities since the beginning of time. In many ways that has been the greatest hurdle to overcome, but ultimately it has been our greatest strength.

AS for creating a system where changes are wrought through compromise and logic rather than brute force, many aboriginal peoples were able to achieve peaceful co-operation through understanding. And Europe has proven again and again that it is more than willing to entertain wholesale slaughter of its people in order for one State or another to seek supremacy. Our country was drawn into at least two of those wars.

I would take strong issue with McGrath's comparison to Rome and other swaggering imperial powers. Never have we sought annexation of our allies, nor even of our enemies. We have often acted in self-interest, but most often with the support and aid of countries like Great Britain, France, Australia and Japan who share our belief in the republican form of government and, yes, our economic system. Our greatest transgressions occurred during the Cold War, when we supported fascist strong-men in third world countries throughout the world. The United States in the 90s and in the new millenium seems destined (cursed?) to be the World's arbiter and police force in such areas as Bosnia/Herzogovia, where the options seemed to be 1)Stand and watch genocide take place or 2)Act against the repressors and for the repressed, according to our best understanding of the situation.