shelodor的作业贴——issue习作
112. Claim: The surest indicator of a great nation is not the achievements of its rulers, artists, or scientists.Reason: The surest indicator of a great nation is actually the welfare of all its people. 6 times
Write a response in which you discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the claim and the reason on which that claim is based.
What makes a nation great? It is a question that cannot be defined by few factors. A great nation might offer people a feeling of strong, responsible, economic developed and so on. It is for sure that as the author suggests, the welfare of its people is a vital factor of a country, but obviously welfare cannot be equivalent to greatness. The achievements of eminent individuals, in my point of view, have a strong connection with welfare of all citizens in a nation even those of the world. With the interaction between culture inspiration and well-being living standard, the panorama of a nation generates.
Committedly, welfare of people can strongly influence the social stability and development of a society. People live in north Europe have less pressures and burdens of living pressure because of their highly social welfare, which was known as “Cradle-to-grave welfare control”. The welfare allows them having more choices of their lives, which provides the society of more harmony and happiness. Even the economics of Europe is in the downturn, they do not have to worry about sustenance since nations offers them protection and allowance. People feel satiated living in these countries, enjoying benefits provided by the nation, while does it prove the greatness of these countries?
To answer the question, the definition of greatness of a nation has to be defined. In my personal opinion, a great nation does not only defined by how much social welfare it provides to its citizens, or how contented their folks percepts. Great suggests an emotion of reverence besides satisfaction. It owns an innominate power that can influence people in extraordinary perspectives. It is not only satisfying, which seems more like sufficient water or air, but like liquor, which makes people feel compelling but addicted. Thus, a country that provides citizens sufficient welfare cannot be defined as a great country. They have to generate more than received. They need to express eagerness to be responsible for the vicissitudes of the world. Welfare for its own citizens is obligation of a nation, while welfare for all accomplishes the greatness of a nation.
Great nations have to be all way round. Not only in economic scale, but also in culture, political even philosophical, did the country contributes significant progresses to the human society, it is a great nation. Therefore, we can never despise the contributions make by individuals of a nation. Rulers, scientists and artists do count a lot since they provide benefits not only for one nation, but the whole human planet. We never consider Singapore a great country, although it owns high quality citizens and supreme hygiene streets, it does not have any deep influence to other countries. While United States, as many people perceived, a great nation, owns idiosyncrasies other nation could not compare. The United States Constitution is one of the earliest written laws of human culture, which provides other democratic countries with magnificent paradigm. Thomas Edison, who invented light bulbs turned out to bring benefit to every man of the world. These contributions are both tangible and precious to us. The impetus they provide to the movement of human culture is quite significant, but these contributions also stand on a relative harmonious and well-off society. Without the benign interactions between economical well being and spiritual growth, there will not be a birth of great nation.
To conclude, the greatness of a nation cannot be measured by one or few factors. Welfare only cannot be the measurement of great nations. Contributions of great individuals should not be weighing solely.
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