What Makes America Great

Imagine you’re the best scientist in your country. People call you great. You’re performing well. Then, one fine day, an eminent professor in your field of science says: “Let’s make him/her (meaning you) a great scientist again.” How would you feel? Donald Trump’s 2016 election slogan, “make America great again,” had the same effect on America. It stumped Americans because it appeared as if he was ignoring the obvious and suggesting that America isn’t great, but had been, some time in the past! And that made little sense since Americans think their country is (not was) the greatest nation in the world today. Ever since, the angered American wants to respond fittingly, but stalled by doubts whether he/she understands the meaning of the country’s “greatness” soundly enough, hasn’t been able to. What if the President was hinting at something important that they’d left out? What Makes America Great expounds on the matter of “greatness” and provides the answers.

The author, Bob Dowell, is a political scientist and scholar. This book is the fruit of his study of relevant American history, starting from the time she became a nation. From the viewpoint of an expert, he clarifies that America’s greatness, as envisioned by its founders, is primarily spiritual and not material. Simply put, America’s greatness is her Christian character.

The country’s founders envisioned her to be a Biblical “city on a hill,” an exemplar that would lead how other nations would follow. God’s blessings are upon America on account of her dedication to being exemplary. His favor is the primary reason for her unparalleled rise to prominence in the world. It is exemplary leaders and influencers like George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and Martin Luther King (to mention just a few) that led America to glory. In recent times, America has drifted far from God, leading to an alarming decline in character. While she still wears a facade of greatness, she’s inwardly being destroyed by infighting, corruption, and other evils that have crept in through the backdoors, over the years, unseen. The situation is much like termites eating into a log of wood: when they’re done eating, the log will crumble completely… but at a moment too late to save! Trump was referring to this situation in his election slogan. He wants America to fight the rot and redeem her character so she can be truly “great” again.

What I liked very much about this book is the author’s skillful handling of a vast and sensitive issue. Most Americans today know they have a rich Christian heritage, yet shun God. God isn’t a priority, and they dislike being rebuked about it. Hence, the tone of the book is gentle—it seeks to be informative but avoids being accusative, judgemental, or critical. I found nothing in it I disliked.

What Makes America Great is highly informative, and its release comes at an opportune time when Americans are desperately seeking authoritative information on the greatness issue. I believe this book is an essential read for every concerned American citizen. International readers may want to read it to keep abreast of what’s important to know in the world’s No. 1 country. Other categories of readers I recommend this book to are political scientists, politicians, leaders (including Church pastors), and historians.