America is an experiment in democracy, and any representative democracy of hundreds of millions of people is as likely to get things wrong as right. But the big difference between democratic republics and authoritarian regimes is that we can and do renew ourselves on a regular basis.

Chomsky seems to discount the fact that we have not only the tradition of circumspection but also the ability to correct past mistakes. Whether or not we have the willingness to do so is a legitimate focus for criticism.

America, Lincoln’s “last best hope of earth,” has always been an aspiration. And we all know that Jefferson owned slaves yet wrote eloquently that “all men are created equal.” Our greatest fault is that our arrogance exceeds our humility.