Jan. 1, 2001: To Brian and Thomas Yarbrough; Zachary and Nicholas Wansley:

Well, boys, it looks like we made it to the new millennium. The last time we did this was a thousand years ago, and if the planet doesn’t self-destruct in the meantime, it will be another thousand years before we do it again.

You are fortunate to have lived through a change of centuries and then to have witnessed the start of a new millennium. When you think about all the people who have inhabited this earth since the beginning of time, you are in an elite group.

Who knows what the next millennium will bring? Or the next century? Or even next year? Whatever happens, I am glad you live in this country.

If America took human form, it would be one giant hypochondriac. We are the most powerful nation on earth, but we whine and moan as though we are the sickest. We have lots of special-interest groups that feed our angst because that is how they maintain their power. If they were to admit that things aren’t as bad as they claim, the leaders of these groups might have to fold their tents and go find real jobs. The fact is we are doing just fine.

Both your great-grandfathers were born early in the 20th century, less than 100 years ago. Since that time, we have virtually eradicated once-fatal diseases like smallpox, tuberculosis, and polio. We have fought and survived two world wars and two wars in Asia. We have become the most civilized, the best-educated and most technologically advanced nation ever to exist. We are also the wealthiest, the most humane — and the most insecure.

At your great-grandfathers’ births, we were just a half-century beyond the Civil War, which split the nation apart and inflicted wounds that in some quarters remain today. In retribution for the way white Southerners were treated in the aftermath of that war, we took it out on the people least able to defend themselves — poor blacks. Just as many Germans can’t conceive the Holocaust, it is hard to believe we once hung people simply because of their skin color. The ones we didn’t hang, we relegated to second-class citizenship until they finally grew tired of it and rightfully demanded equal access to the American dream. Happily, most have taken advantage of the opportunity, and the result is a rapidly growing black middle class. From my observation of you and your friends, yours is the most colorblind generation yet, which gives me great hope.

Don’t think we don’t have problems. We do. But I can’t think of one country that doesn’t. Most countries, though, are too arrogant to admit it. Many people abroad resent our success. As a European friend once told me, ”If America sneezes, the rest of the world catches cold,” so we become a convenient excuse for other nations’ stagnant economies, their internal strife and their lack of leadership. Rather than solve their own problems, the malcontents in some countries find it easier to gather a bunch of thugs, invite the TV crews and burn our flag as we wring our hands, wondering what we did.

In fact, we are the most caring and giving nation on earth, but it seems the more we care and the more we give, the more we are disliked. We just have to live with it, and frankly, I haven’t lost a lot of sleep over it. But be prepared for more of the same in the future. No country is dumb enough to take us head-on, but a lot of them will try to nibble away at our insecurities and weaken our resolve. Don’t let them do it.

I envy you. You have exciting times ahead of you. You can be whatever you choose, and I hope you choose wisely. No matter what you do, do it the absolute best of your ability. Don’t cheat yourself or others by not giving your all. Try to leave the world better than you found it and keep a sense of humor. Laughter is good for what ails you. Finally, be proud that you are Americans. We live in the greatest nation on earth, and deep down inside, we know it. Don’t ever be apologetic about your good fortune.

Happy Millennium and much love,