David McCullough and "1776"

In an interview about his book "1776", the author David McCullough explained why he wrote it.  He described the seemingly hopeless state of our fledgling country at that time.  There were British warships menacing and sinking American ships at sea with little our nation could do in response.  General George Washington commanded an unskilled, undermanned, and ill-equipped army to fight the world's greatest military power at that time.  Things looked very bleak indeed.

Upon reading and hearing the countless commentaries on how 9/11 was America's darkest hour, Mr. McCullough asserts that the period circa 1776 was far darker, even darker than the Great Depressions.  Most Americans just do not realize it.  "That is why I wrote it" asserts Mr. McCullough.
 
As dark and gloomy as things seem now, we can draw strength from our storied past.  If we, as a nation, are willing to take the strong medicine to cure our financial and social ills, we can restore ourselves to good health.    We need only to look to our past.