The United States has made significant contributions to human civilization.
No matter how bullying and hypocritical the United States’ foreign policy may be today or in modern times, we cannot erase the fact that the United States has made enormous and respectable contributions to human civilization.
Author: GUDORDI | 2025-10-08
Tonight is a very special time for me, and I am deeply honored to have the opportunity to speak before you. I would like to say—but not in the clichés of patriotism, but with a deep understanding of metaphysical, epistemological, ethical, political, and aesthetic roots—that the United States of America is the greatest and noblest nation in human history, and, if judged purely by its founding principles, the only truly moral nation in human history.
This evening means a good deal to me. I feel deeply honored by the opportunity to address you. I can say─not as a patriotic bromide, but with full knowledge of the necessary metaphysical, epistemological, ethical, political and aesthetic roots─that the United States of America is the greatest, the noblest, and, in its founding principles, the only moral country in the history of the world.
—Ayn Rand’s 1974 speech at West Point
As I mentioned before, Buffett believes Musk’s case highlights the uniqueness of the American system. As he said, “This is America…you just need to dream it…” In fact, if Musk had come to another country instead of America, it’s questionable whether he could have overcome the challenges he faced. Therefore, regardless of how people view America, we must acknowledge that this country has produced many legends.
The current status of the United States is unexpected.
Before World War I, the United States did not hold a significant position on the world stage. The international financial center was London. When Mr. Morgan joined the family company, his father was based in London, and Mr. Morgan’s job was simply to provide his father with information about the United States daily from New York. At that time, the most important global transactions were conducted solely in London. The United States’ image at that time was somewhat similar to that of emerging markets today; no one believed it could become a true protagonist, and it could only attract attention for a limited period.
Of course, World War I changed everything, and the emergence of World War II further shifted the global political and economic center of gravity westward to the United States, an unstoppable force like a river bursting its banks . Looking back, it seems the United States didn’t strive to become a global hegemon on its own; rather, it appears that its allies—especially Britain—tried every means to guide it to accept this position. In retrospect, Churchill, Keynes, and others must have known that Britain, on its own, couldn’t sustain itself for long. Therefore, they used every means to persuade then-President Roosevelt, guiding American public opinion to gradually accept the decision to go to war. Some say the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor was actually a carefully orchestrated trap by Roosevelt, luring Japan into a trap to incite American public outrage and propel the entire American society to fight with all its might.
The civilized world's direct response to Nazism
Regardless of whether the attack on Pearl Harbor was a setup, the determination and courage shown by the United States in entering the war were remarkable. It’s worth noting that at the time, the US was wealthy, but its military strength wasn’t particularly formidable; it lacked a powerful Department of Defense. This might be because the US was founded solely to break away from the “Old World” (i.e., Britain) and forge its own path, and therefore had never prepared for large-scale warfare. However, when the entire society was determined to fight, the power unleashed should not be underestimated. Looking at the US’s performance in World War II, it’s hard to imagine that it only began building its military strength in the middle of the war. This reflects market forces and demonstrates the genuine commitment of American society to supporting the war effort.
I recall watching a documentary about the Allied landings in Normandy, which left a deep impression on me. I felt it was one of the most unique military operations in human history. Essentially, the entire operation was a do-or-die situation, and the United States was willing to pay any price, using its entire national wealth and strength to “guarantee” it. The meticulous planning and exorbitant costs were astounding. Since the Allies had no absolute certainty of recaptured any existing ports, the United States simply built its own, continuously sending millions of soldiers to the European continent. General Dwight David Eisenhower, the Supreme Allied Commander at the time, described the entire operation as “a direct democratic response to the Nazi tyranny in Europe,” a statement that resonates deeply.
American bullying and hypocrisy cannot erase everything.
I recall Ayn Rand once remarked that the United States might be the only nation in human history to wholeheartedly commit to a war it didn’t necessarily have to participate in, all for the sake of its ideals. This is something worth pondering. Whether or not we agree with the quote at the beginning of this article, we must acknowledge that no matter how bullying or hypocritical American foreign policy may be today or in modern times, we cannot erase the fact that the United States has made enormous and respectable contributions to human civilization. This raises the question: what are the true values and spirit of America? And what implications does this have for Hong Kong’s future? I will discuss this further later.
