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If Someone Can't Even Understand America's Success...

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Posted by Luis Hamburgh on November 30, 2001 00:36:10 UTC

...it's no wonder they can't grasp 21st century physics. The American formula for success (freedom) will continue to produce the finest scientists for centuries to come, and here's why:

ONE: A major concept the founders of America held is that we define ourselves. That is, there should exist a society in which ancestry, association, and finances aren't prerequisite to the achievement of 'greatness.'

(Sure, there are aspects of America where these ideals are somewhat diluted, but the underlying freedom that allows us to define ourselves hasn't gone away.)

TWO: Our nation is still so young that, with the exception of Native Americans, all of us have American emigrants in our recent past.

THREE: Hence, you cannot argue against American nature. All you can do is blame American nurture; specifically, the inferred product of our easy society (in the form of lazy citizens).

FOUR: BUT, that argument is doomed -- one cannot argue against a negative aspect of American nurture (lazy kids) while ignoring the positive aspect (attracting all the best minds) that maintains a proper balance. If a Pakistani emigrant scientist flocks to the USA, in all likelihood he will shortly thereafter naturalize. Any future offspring will be 'just as American' as anyone can be!

Two hundred years from now, the descendents of today's Chinese emigrant will have American ancestry two-thirds the age of mine.

Isn't it great?

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