J. Rufus Fears spoke about a topic of critical importance on October 26, 2006 in Asheville, NC: What is a superpower to do in a time of crisis? He drew on the lessons of history to address our fears, concerns, and hopes as the world’s only superpower. We do not have the luxury of thinking tomorrow will be soon enough to address the issues of what a superpower is to do in crisis. What do we do now? Where do we go from here? Fears will guide us on a journey of possibilities, looking through the lens of history to glean its lessons, and offering a powerful set of principles upon which we can act.

• Where are we to turn for examples?
• Where do we go from here?
• How do we get there?
• Can we preserve our greatness, our strength, our vitality, our freedoms, our grace and our compassion?
• Can we not only survive, but thrive during the next American (and global) era?