It is worth saying about America ...

It is worth saying [about America] once again that no nation has ever come into the possession of such powers for good or ill, for freedom or tyranny, for friendship or enmity among the peoples of the world, and that no nation in history has used these powers, by and large, with greater vision, restraint, responsibility and courage.

London Times, 1954

When all you hear is criticism of your country from both without and within, covering every time period in which your country existed - it is really nice to see praise like this, even if it is from way back in 1954.