I think you need to revisit your statement on no country gives more than we do to others. Perhaps, when you add up all the non-governmental, private and religious donations, that may be true. However, as a share of our national budget, we are something like 25th in the world as a slice of GNP. The Scandinavian countries are almost three times higher. And a good deal of our federal aid is in the form of credits to buy our wheat and our weapons. You can argue that buying our wheat is a benefit, except that it often costs the recipient nation much more than buying local foodstores that are native to the area and part of the recipients' normal diets.

We like to think we are so generous, and personally we may be, but our national budget does not reflect this.

Thanks for your messages

Thank you for your messages and insights.

I think we do need to maintain our very special principles and idealism. However, the essay, though well intended, is not a good reminder; it reminds us of some places we are still working on and have more work to do in. Muslims in America certainly do have more freedom than Muslims in many countries, but they are not yet fully accepted as Muslim-Americans. We are not yet ready for a Muslim to become president or perhaps even a cabinet member. Many Muslims have to keep a much lower profile than those of other religious groups, and are hated or distrusted by many.

There are many great things to say about the USA, and we should not forget them. We do, however, still have more work to do in making ourselves even better.

Another detail: Afghanistan's Muslim population (about 99% of its 31 million people) is greater than America's Muslim population (estimated at perhaps 5-8 million).

Thanks again!

I just read the comment from Chris and could not help thinking what a sad and bitter statement. We, the citizens of America, are America. The government is us. In terms of giving, Chris acknowledged that when you add up all the donations, the commentary is correct, but then went on to state that Scandinavian countries give a higher percentage of their GNP. Good for them! But what about total amount given? Sorry Chris, but we still give more. We are still the most generous country in the world, and yes, I'm counting the blood of our children, given to promote freedom around the world. I'm happy that Europe is no longer under the control of the Nazis but let's not forget the price we paid, both in money and lives, so they could be our partners in a free and open society.

I just read the comment from Bill and wondered about his statement about Chris's comment: "and could not help thinking what a sad and bitter statement."

We're Americans, and most of us are just trying to live and make our world better for ourselves, our children, others around the world, and their children.

Our original audacious and wonderful "American experiment" has been so incredibly successful and has changed the world. Of course we are still changing, adapting, and improving.

Not surprisingly, there are occasionally false starts and mistakes, and we try to recognize and correct them.

Perhaps this is what Chris was trying to say.

Like Chris, I too have troubles when our devotion/compulsion to saying "We're Number 1" blinds us to the reality that our greatness comes from our abiding honesty, self-examination (freedom of speech, so critical and precious), and then the deep courage to do what's necessary. Well-intentioned words are never going to hurt America.

Please, Bill, don't forget the important points that you've made about America's incredible contributions to the world.

Remember, too, that when you dismiss or demean others, you are forgetting that others, too, are participating in the very processes that are necessary to keep America realistic, vital, free, and strong.

I have to agree with Chris. While Bill has a point, I think Chris's is very important. If I have $100 and give $10 to charity and someone else has $1,000 and gives $10 to charity, who has made the greater sacrifice? Our country as a whole gives more because we have so much more to give. Comparing the ability to give to what is given is a much more realistic measure of what is being done. And Chris doesn't sound bitter to me - only pragmatic and wanting to have an honest discussion of the facts. To congratulate ourselves for giving a larger dollar amount than many economies even have available to them is exactly the hollow self-congratulation that can make us seem arrogant to the rest of the world. What we do is wonderful, and I'm proud that we do it. All the comparisons and "we're number one!" exhortations only dim that luster.

I have heard this debated by national columnists and wish I had true data to back this up, but I trust the sources I have read (people like George Will). My understanding is that when you add up government gifts and private charity, on a per capita basis the US is in fact the most generous country in the world. That includes personal donations, donations by groups (like the Red Cross, Doctors Without Borders, etc.), and it includes money, materials and people's time. "Donations" by the government amount to coerced charity where our tax money is handed to someone else by the government. That is what happens in Scandinavia. In the US, it is true charity -- people giving of themselves freely. It is something we should be truly proud to be a part of.