Some people claim that you can tell whether a nation is great by looking at the achievements of its rulers, artists, or scientists. Others argue that the surest indicator of a great nation is, in fact, the general welfare of all its people.
Write a response in which you discuss which view more closely aligns with your own position and explain your reasoning for the position you take. In developing and supporting your position, you should address both of the views presented.
In modern notions of greatness, nations are judged according to the number of great artists, scientists, and rulers who have made significant contributions to that nation. While both of these views have some merit, they each fail to consider the importance of a nation’s general welfare. In examining this argument, it is important to consider that a nation’s general welfare encompasses the economic, social, and political conditions that shape the lives of its citizens
It is difficult to imagine a nation where its citizens are destitute, and where those who are lucky enough to survive live in poverty. Poverty is detrimental to the overall health of a nation, for not only can it cause health problems, but it can also cause psychological effects such as stress, depression, and apathy. The people in poor nations are also more susceptible to social conditions such as violence and crime, which can have negative long-term effects on the population as a whole. Furthermore, a hungry populace cannot produce the goods and services that a country needs to thrive economically. Therefore, a nation’s success cannot be based on the success of its rulers, artists, or scientists alone. In order to consider a nation great, it is important to consider the well-being of its people, and a nation can only be considered great if its citizens are healthy, prosperous, and happy
The second view that a nation’s greatness is contingent upon the general welfare of its citizens is flawed as well, in that a nation’s success cannot be determined by the accomplishments of a select few. The works of great artists, scientists, and rulers are all valuable, but, as with poverty and disease, they do not define a nation. A nation’s greatness must reflect the efforts of all of its citizens, including those who are poor, uneducated, and disabled. A country’s greatness is reflected in its morals, values, and traditions, and it is through these principles that its people will behave and interact with each other. The works of great artists, scientists, and rulers are mere reflections of these ideals, and a nation cannot be great if its citizens do not uphold these principles
There are many examples of great nations that did not have the greatest artists, scientists, or rulers. For instance, the United States is one of the richest nations in the world, but its citizens are plagued by poverty. In the eyes of many, China, another nation that has experienced phenomenal growth, is the ‘greatest nation on earth,’ but China’s citizens have been subjected to brutal human rights abuses for decades. Nations such as Norway, Sweden, and Denmark have higher living standards than the United States, but these countries do not have the same cultural impact. Therefore, while great artists and scientists are valuable, they cannot be considered the determining factors of a great nation.