America's moral authority regarding past moral transgressions

The argument that America's moral authority is hypocritical is invalid. America has a constitution that is based on one guiding principle; the fallibility of the government. From our country's inception, we admit that our government cannot be absolutely trusted with anything, and we retain the authority to change the rules governing the governors. To have this system for any period of time without a history of mistakes, amendments, and eventually hypocritical proclamations, is to have only a partial process.

The process consists of making a mistake, correcting, and learning from the mistake. The natural result of learning, is the desire to teach. America holds a powerful position in the world and on many issues we are looked to for leadership by other nations. Our past mistakes, if they are corrected, not only can, but should be those pushed hardest against when seen elsewhere. It is not then hypocrisy, but wisdom, which guides us. It is this most precious resource that America has in abundance.

It is not that America's moral authority is invalidated by our past transgressions, it is our transgressions which serve to substantiate our authority. It is our responsibility to ensure that this does not lead to a sense of overbearing pride in our wisdom. Humility is the only vanguard against hypocrisy, for only when we are wise and humble may we assert our authority with dignity. We must aspire to the ideals left to us by those wise men who willed us a great nation, and the only way to honor the sacrifices of those who have come before, is to correct what can be corrected while leaving as our legacy the ability of those who are yet to come, to correct us.