Should Every Country Think It Is Exceptional?

Hello everyone!

It's par for the course that big and powerful countries think they're exceptional. Britain, France, America, Russia, Germany, China, Japan, and other powerful and important nations all think they're the best.

But what about Albania? What about Zimbabwe? Or Honduras, or Laos?

Should these nations, like the great powers, think of themselves as exceptional, a cut above the rest?

Why, or why not?

Only if they are the US, otherwise they would be in denial :shock:

Fisher said:

Only if they are the US, otherwise they would be in denial :shock:

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Haha, I'm not sure if you're serious, so I'll treat this as a joke.

Even so, why did you vote the way you did in the poll?

Ad_Captandum said:

Haha, I'm not sure if you're serious, so I'll treat this as a joke.

Even so, why did you vote the way you did in the poll?

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I haven't voted in your poll as my response wasn't one of the choices. None of the options captures my opinion--"Sure they can think of themselves exceptional at something as long as they actually are exceptional at those things". I mean there are African nations that produce exceptional runners, but they should not think of themselves as exceptional at anything other than producing great distance runners.

Fisher said:

I haven't voted in your poll as my response wasn't one of the choices. None of the options captures my opinion--"Sure they can think of themselves exceptional at something as long as they actually are exceptional at those things". I mean there are African nations that produce exceptional runners, but they should not think of themselves as exceptional at anything other than producing great distance runners.

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I feel like that's what the fifth option is, no?

Ad_Captandum said:

Hello everyone!

It's par for the course that big and powerful countries think they're exceptional. Britain, France, America, Russia, Germany, China, Japan, and other powerful and important nations all think they're the best.

But what about Albania? What about Zimbabwe? Or Honduras, or Laos?

Should these nations, like the great powers, think of themselves as exceptional, a cut above the rest?

Why, or why not?

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Sure every country should think their great! Why are you living there otherwise? Doesn't mean your ACTUALLY exceptional though... *Spoken from one of those "Patriots"*

Ad_Captandum said:

I feel like that's what the fifth option is, no?

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That was the closest but not quite on the mark for my interpretation. For instance, France thinks of itself as exceptional at wine, but really,that is not so much true any more.

Ad_Captandum said:

Hello everyone!

It's par for the course that big and powerful countries think they're exceptional. Britain, France, America, Russia, Germany, China, Japan, and other powerful and important nations all think they're the best.

But what about Albania? What about Zimbabwe? Or Honduras, or Laos?

Should these nations, like the great powers, think of themselves as exceptional, a cut above the rest?

Why, or why not?

Click to expand...

Compared to what?

I find the beauty of Columbian women to be exceptional. Canada is exceptionally clean and scenic. Ireland is exceptionally friendly.

I voted #4.

Exceptionalisim in respect to geopolitics is something very different than thinking your country produces exceptionally beautiful women or is exceptionally clean.

It means that your country is so far ahead of/above the rest that the normal rules don't apply, it means that the international community should make exceptions for you because of your greatness.

I don't think such inflated opinions of the national self hold a great deal of water.

We've all seen (at least in a history book) what happens when a great nation begins to consider itself exceptional and starts running roughshod over the community of nations.

In a nutshell, the international community bands together, firebombs the upstart's cities, and occupies that nation for 40 or 50 years.

No single part is as great as the whole.

Not even the United States.

Depends on whether exceptional means "better" or merely "different."

If we're talking in the core of the term's meaning, that a nation is notable and extraordinary in some way, then it's up to them.

All the great powers of the world can shout it from the mountain tops (America, UK, France, China, Japan, Germany, etc), along with nations that have vibrant cultures and and are rising (like Brazil or India, for example) or "small", prosperous nations like Norway or Denmark. Pride is good in nice doses and a feeling of "special-ness" helps a nation long as these things don't translate to "we're better than you and you are an inferior people for not being on our level". That's where the issues come in, America and many other nations have had this issue in some shape or form throughout history.

Far as prideful citizens go, everyone thinks their nation is the best. I've seen this with Colombians, Canadians, Americans, Brits, Italians, hell even Cubans, and so on. It's about more than economic power or test scores.

Personally, I don't think every nation is exceptional. But, I think that label is up for debate entirely and not something that's easily settled. Couldn't help but laugh when Putin said America wasn't exceptional -- a history of feats and innovation says otherwise, but it was obviously a hot case of bull****. Though, I also think Russia is an exceptional nation.

You could definitely say that there are nations exceptional in far more ways than others, no doubt. People don't need to go hanging their heads down to avoid hurting someone's feelings, we are all not on the same level when it comes to something like this. Of course, none of this changes that we should shift towards a world that doesn't **** on one another -- but that's a dream for now.

StillBallin75 said:

Depends on whether exceptional means "better" or merely "different."

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Both. And yes they do and should. The thing is that each country's exceptionalism will take on a unique flavor.

My job as an American, however, is to devalue every other country's place in the world and uphold my exceptionalism.

Canada and Canadians are known for being humble and unassuming - that's what makes us exceptional :happy:

Every country should view itself as unique in some respect, otherwise there is no justification for it existing. I suppose that means exceptional.

"Should Every Nation Think Itself Exceptional?"

Yes. Except for Belgium, of course.

Every nation is exceptional in some way.

Some people seem to believe that 'exceptional' and 'better' are synonyms. They're not.

Cyrylek said:

Yes. Except for Belgium, of course.

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Best beer in the world. That's exceptional!

/thread

No exceptions!

All anumals are equal but some animals are pomre equal than others. eace

Andalublue said:

Best beer in the world. That's exceptional!

/thread

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And by association, best monks in the world.

Exceptionalism is just a rationalization for running roughshod over smaller nations.

I really can't think of a good justification for any nation claiming to be "exceptional," to the point where it licenses actions that would not be acceptable if done by another nation.

I find no value whatsoever in blind patriotism, it only leads to irrational thinking. Nobody is really great, every nation has it's strengths and weaknesses and only a fool would think their nation is perfect, just because it's their nation.

I would have though that every country already thinks that it is exceptional by it's populace...

...why else do people cheer for their homelands during the Olympics, etc. ??

CanadaJohn said:

Canada and Canadians are known for being humble and unassuming - that's what makes us exceptional :happy:

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... Are you including the Quebecois in that statement?

My country is better and more exceptional than all the others.

Hatuey said:

... Are you including the Quebecois in that statement?

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No. They, generally, don't consider themselves Canadian either.