I don't think there is anything wrong with bragging. As long as your bragging does not entail a sense of unwarranted or damaging nationalism. There is a difference between being proud at the things America is really good at, and having a sense of nationalistic exceptionalism where almost everything the US does is better then anyone else, even when it does it worse then other countries.
I didn't say there's anything wrong with being proud of achievements or even mentioning it. But the word "exceptionalism" sounds like we're saying, "everyone else stinks in comparison." We may have set enviable standards, but plenty of other nations have definitely added some cultural benefits to the world.
Being born an American doesn't automatically make anyone great. I think we have to continually work hard at being the country that believes in people.
I would agree with everything you said. But being proud of your country and what it has achieved, which in my case is the US, is not US exceptionalism.
That's the problem in this world. Everyone thinks that they are the exception and they try to impose their exceptionalism on others. It's a very dangerous concept.
I agree there's nothing wrong with being proud of your country. But the term, 'American Exceptionalism' implies some sort of superiority over everyone else. Though, I believe the US has had "exceptional" achievements in comparative world history, we're also broadly a young nation made up of immigrants.
Along with our natural resources, we may have had a more inclusive ideology at one time that benefited our successes but that's all eroding now.
Thats true, but the definition of American Exceptionalism has been expanded to simply being proud of being American. You see people exclaiming those who make the claim the US is the most powerful military in the world and you will have that be defined as American exceptionalism. Even if the truth of such a statement can be argued and backed up with mountains of evidence. You will hear American exceptionalism thrown at someone stating America is the best country in the world. There is a lot of evidence that it is the best country in the world. There are a lot of countries that may be better off financially, or may have more freedom of speech, or may have less crime... ect ect.. But A good argument can be made that no other country does things as well across the board as the US does. We may not be at the top of the list in every category, but if you look at those lists, we hold high positions in almost all categories. Where most countries hold high positions in some categories, and very low positions on others. So to simply label someone who can back their assertions up with evidence as being an exceptionalist only amounts to sourness some may have of those facts, or otherwise called, jealousy.
I'd argue that the USA is exceptional by nearly all measures. Historically, militarily, culturally, socially, scientifically, agriculturally, and industrially.
No other nation comes close across these measures, and the continued flooding to our shores of the worlds immigrants suggests others see it this way as well.
I guess that's my problem with the term "American exceptionalism" .
It seems as if the pundits who are most fond of the term, imply that our exceptionalism requires continuous warfare.
Dennis Prager is the worst.
Having said that, many aspects of our country are exceptional....so I'm voting yes.
And I would argue that those days are passe. We've seen it completely come apart at the seams in less than a decade. Thank you liberals for electing that goofball community organizer.
Hell no. What makes us so much "exceptional than other countries"?
Ill let one of the greatest current TV shows to explain the rest: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q49NOyJ8fNA
And I would argue that those days are passe. We've seen it completely come apart at the seams in less than a decade. Thank you liberals for electing that goofball community organizer.
It's not American Exceptionalism but Immigrant Exceptionalism.
Where we concede that any large group of people, sufficiently motivated, can achieve broad cultural exceptionality, what does a national perspective mean, unless to imply that certain nations have a monopoly on ability?
He contradicted himself in this speech as opposed to countless other speeches he has made. Check out the speech he made upon the passage of the ACA. Then watch Boehner's speech the same night. Both Obama and Boehner accepted American Exceptionalism, but came with differing opinions as to whether or not the ACA fulfilled that or not.
Should you request it, I could try to find them both again. I used to have them on stand-by to discuss American exceptionalism in classes.
You asked. I was courteous and answered. There a problem with that?
That's the problem in this world. Everyone thinks that they are the exception and they try to impose their exceptionalism on others. It's a very dangerous concept.
So, if our "exceptionalism" can be dismantled in six short years, by a goofball, maybe we weren't all that exceptional.
Just the whole crying because every possible political lean HAS TO BE mentioned in a straightforward general poll. I would have picked an answer, or move on, but to each his own. :shrug:
I didn't say there's anything wrong with being proud of achievements or even mentioning it. But the word "exceptionalism" sounds like we're saying, "everyone else stinks in comparison." We may have set enviable standards, but plenty of other nations have definitely added some cultural benefits to the world.
Being born an American doesn't automatically make anyone great. I think we have to continually work hard at being the country that believes in people.
You don't want an answer or comment, don't ask a question. You get what ya get. Whether you like it or not.
You didn't have a answer that fit me or several people. There's always the answer OTHER, that way you don't have to read to my "crying" as you put it. Other is a good catch all.
Hell no. What makes us so much "exceptional than other countries"?
Ill let one of the greatest current TV shows to explain the rest: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q49NOyJ8fNA