After 18 months, briefly set aside your opinion of President Barack Obama – good or bad. Instead, ponder the following American miracle that prevails across “the land of the free” – peace and prosperity.
America Since 1945
Compared to much of the world, U.S. transfers of power are very peaceful and agreeable to our citizenry. A case study of the world and America since 1945 contrasts the U.S. with many other nations’ power changes. Whether your man is in the White House or not, let us recall how blessed we are to live in this great country.
Since 1945, the United States has experienced 16 presidential elections and 12 presidents. Only one took power upon the assassination of his predecessor, for which the successor bore no blame. Only one presidential candidate has been murdered. None of our executive leaders have sustained oppressive regimes, silenced all opposition, stayed in office beyond their legal limit, or retained power by changing the law. How do other countries boast on these issues?
Political Oppression
On assassinations, some 20 Asian countries have seen over 43 of their presidents, prime ministers, kings, queens, first-ladies, vice-presidents, or leading candidates murdered since 1945. In Africa more than 25 top leaders in 17 countries have been assassinated. And a minimum of 16 similar deaths have rocked 11 nations elsewhere in the world in the same time period.
Political oppression may be defined as the use of violence and other illegal tactics against one’s own people as means to retain or increase power indefinitely. In the last 65 years, 37 or more African rulers have led such administrations. These autocrats have reigned an average of 19 years, with many still in power today. Latin America has had at least 27 authoritarians, averaging 10 years apiece. Asians have endured 32-plus despots, each lasting roughly 17 years. Europe: 13 leaders, 16-year average. Overall since 1945, the world has witnessed over 1,700 combined years of around 110 national rulers repressing their own citizens!
Peace and Prosperity
Next, recall that ours is the longest unchanging governmental system in history. We have never overhauled our constitution or changed our status as a republic. Furthermore, we have had but one explosive, gruesome division of our nation, and it occurred long before World War II.
The contrasting global scene is bleak. Over 100 countries have been created since 1945. Moreover, 35-40 nations have changed or dumped their constitutions in the same era. Worst of all, around 60 states have suffered all-out civil wars or genocides. On average, these desolations have lasted 10 years each, and conservative death tolls of merely half of these disasters exceeds 20 million persons.
Envy of the World
So as we defend what and who we believe is right, let us remember that as Americans, we are saturated in freedom and unity. We enjoy safe, fair and voluntary shifts in federal leadership. Voters and candidates alike enjoy the security and assurance of legitimate results and the right to vie for change in a few years if we desire. To many, America remains the envy of the world, and this is largely due to the peaceful and honorable changing of the guards at the White House.
