GRE-ISSUE No.170

Issue170. The surest indicator of a great nation is not the achievements of itsrulers, artists, or scientists, but the general welfare of all its people.

 

Howcan a nation be acknowledged as great? Does the criterion lie in theachievements of the rulers, artists or scientists? Or maybe it depends on thecollective well being of all its people? It is evident that a country cannot betermed “great” if there is widespread of poverty and discontent amongst itspeople no matter how groundbreaking achievements the scientists have made.Hence, the general welfare of all the citizens of the realm should definitelybe the surest indicator of a great nation.

 

Peopleare the most important and indispensable part of every nation, based oncountless citizens could the society exist. Citizens are employed in order to meettheir substantial need and keep the society functioning well; common peopleneed to be literate so as to develop a positive world view; one could getaccess to medical aids whenever he or she is ill and old people could be takencare of. That is how social well being contributes to the nation: to create astable and harmonious environment for everybody and enable the country to matchahead on the path to prosperity and progression.

 

Thingsare entirely different for countries that fail to provide basic welfare for itspeople. Living below the poverty line, citizens who suffer from starvation andillness will become unscrupulous and try even the most immoral way to getmoney. Unemployed people can easily be allured to drugs and uneducated youthwill be attracted to criminal organizations like gangsters or pirates. Walkingon the street would no longer be safe neither for local citizens or thetourists. Even though the nation may boast of its excellent scientific team orhow unify the country is under the regime of current rulers. However, did theUnited Union acknowledge South Korea as their scientific team successfullyconducts a nuclear experiment? No. The ruler misappropriated the money to feedhis people into building missals and nuclear bombs, so the economy sanction isawait. Because whether it is the United Union or the commoners, the criterionto evaluate a nation’s greatness is basically the same: a nation that providesafe and stable living condition for all its people.

 

Admittedly,breakthroughs in the world of science and technology of genius researchers anddevelopers surely contribute to the image of the nation in the eyes of theworld. That is partly why American has been regarded as the most influencedcountry for it cultivated great minds like Steve Jobs and Zuckerberg who,literally, make the world better. So, scientific advance still benefit the wellbeing of common people, not to mention art, which promote the advancement of aestheticaltastes, or great political leaders, who endeavor to tackle the problems ofhealth care or retirement pension. In a word, the achievement of rulers orother social elites will contribute to the welfare of the citizens after all.

 

In conclusion, it is the general welfare of all its people that make a great nation.