Broadly speaking, you can shape the world, or decide to sit it out and let everyone else try.

We should absolutely do everything in our power to make the world a better place for us.

The last 80 years taught me we can take down the USSR if we try, we can build europe back up if we try etc. I don't know what lessons you've learned from the past but there were many who were anti fighting (not literally, but through proxies, economics - soft power) the USSR and they were wrong. It's possible to win! & yes, I'm happy we have that spirit again