<< Spiritual strength is, indeed, a gift, not something to show off and lord over others.>>
You have missed the point. Friedman was not "showing off" or "lording it over others." He was arguing a point, almost preaching. The way for poor countries to improve their lot is not to blame us, but to emulate us. Friedman wants other countries to have what we have; that, to me, is almost the exact opposite of "lording it over others". He's being generous, not imperious. He is not saying that wealth and power are our reward; he's saying that our spirit, our soul, have helped us acquire both - and that others can do the same, if only they will. You are nitpicking an editorial like it was a graduate dissertation or a UN White Paper. It was just an exhortatory squiff, intended to make a point quickly and easily. Take it seriously, yes; but don't parse it like a papal encyclical or speech from the Kremlin. Tom Beck
