American Exceptionalism

megaprogman said:

At a point in our history, America was exceptional, but since WW1, many countries have become democracies and we lost that edge.

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There are still things that make America exceptional. We are the great melting pot. And while we aren't always completely accepting of new immigrants (a constant from the Irish of the 19th century to the Mexicans of today), we tend to embrace their children and grandchildren readily. So many other countries are divided along ethnic or religious lines, but here, all you need to do is become a citizen and embrace the culture and you are an American. Even race, our biggest fault line, isn't nearly as deep and divisive as it once was.

And can you point to any Great Power or Super Power in history that has been as restrained and benevolent as America? In the past, any other nation with our wealth and power would be intent on carving out an empire. I'm not suggesting we act purely out of benevolence, nor do I think we should, but considering our relative power, we are a remarkably restrained nation on the world front.

I'm not suggesting that America doesn't have its faults and hypocrisies. We have engaged in imperialistic activities in the past. We embraced slavery for far too long. We committed genocide against the Indian nations. We persecuted and oppressed people for no better reason than the color of their skin. But we also have moved to correct those faults, on our own. Without outside pressure or prompting, and often at great cost.

I think both the extreme left and extreme right get it wrong when it comes to American exceptionalism. The radical left denies that we are special, focusing only on our mistakes and faults, while ignoring our efforts to right those wrongs. The radical right uses the cloak of patriotism and exceptionalism to deny there is or every was anything wrong with this nation. Neither point is true. We are both exceptional and flawed.

spud_meister said:

Sure there is, it's my country. :mrgreen:

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As a matter of fact, I am writing this from your fair land. It like the USA, the UK, and every other nation has many good points and many faults. Like the Septics, it is really time you Aussies learnt to speak English (but at least you write it and spell it tolerably well). :2razz:

Psychoclown said:

I think both the extreme left and extreme right get it wrong when it comes to American exceptionalism. The radical left denies that we are special, focusing only on our mistakes and faults, while ignoring our efforts to right those wrongs. The radical right uses the cloak of patriotism and exceptionalism to deny there is or every was anything wrong with this nation. Neither point is true. We are both exceptional and flawed.

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So, you are saying you are exceptionally flawed? That's being just a touch harsh - is it not? :lol:

Psychoclown said:

can you point to any Great Power or Super Power in history that has been as restrained and benevolent as America? In the past, any other nation with our wealth and power would be intent on carving out an empire.

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Sad to say in this day and age the separation between rich and poor is criminal, we ignore our war veterans needs, allow people to starve on the streets, 40 million don't have health provisions, millions have lost their jobs and homes, proof in advertising isn't being inforced, resulting in billions of dollars spent on worthless things and drugs that promise nothing and deliver nothing. Congress is a tragic joke, newspapers are too opinionated, our army is far too ambitious, our CIA and other intelligences over-exaggerate events to justify their existence, streets and other infrastructure are a disaster waiting to happen, we kill defenseless animals for sport, allow drugs on the market with not near enough testing, allow insurance companies to run our health care, our jails are filled with political misdemeanors, the Supreme Court is too political, far too much prejudice, too much blind faith, and too many charlatans.

ricksfolly

America was once exceptional because of the fact that virtually all of the euro peon immigrants to America came in opposition to some form of authority. That characteristic distinguished Americans from others. It tied into the frontier experience where govt. was mostly absent.

Those people believed in all the component elements of individual liberty and personal freedom.

But most of those people are gone now. They have been replaced by people who idolize paternalism.

Obama's America isn't worth spit.

America isn't exceptional in the world. Many nations now have similar, and in many cases better rights. Average income, income equality, freedom of the press, defense spending are all better in other places. Why is America cool? Well for one they've been quite stringent in their defense of free speech (although the whole Wikileaks controversy makes me doubt this seriously), the people are nice, it's a large country, has nice scenery, etc. I like it.

In the foreign policy sense I couldn't disagree more with American Exceptionalism.

And it is destroying us. All these fine ultra-conservatives can't seem to remember that whole "meek inheriting the earth" thing. Jesus Christ himself never made such claims, obviously knowing that pride commeth before the fall.

Albert Di Salvo said:

America was once exceptional because of the fact that virtually all of the euro peon immigrants to America came in opposition to some form of authority. That characteristic distinguished Americans from others. It tied into the frontier experience where govt. was mostly absent.

Those people believed in all the component elements of individual liberty and personal freedom.

But most of those people are gone now. They have been replaced by people who idolize paternalism.

Obama's America isn't worth spit.

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Really? What rights have you lost in the past 2 years? Hell, most of you aren't even willing to pay for your own wars or debt - much less civil society and infrastructure that benefits us all. So please tell me what freedoms you have lost? I would be interested to know. And no, you are not paying more taxes. This is the lowest they have been since 1950. Your policies just added $900 billion to the deficit. So I would argue YOU are destroying our freedoms, since that money needs to be borrowed from China and the middle east oil producers, tightening the noose a little more.

Catz Part Deux said:

Do you believe in American exceptionalism?

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Not anymore. We've gone from a once great nation of independent-minded rugged individuals to a nation of crybaby dependent sheep in the span of 100 years. If it's exceptional, it's certainly not in a positive way.

lizzie said:

Not anymore. We've gone from a once great nation of independent-minded rugged individuals to a nation of crybaby dependent sheep in the span of 100 years. If it's exceptional, it's certainly not in a positive way.

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American exceptionalism doesn't claim that America is better than other nations because of nice free speech, internet in most homes, etc, it claims America is better from an objective standpoint. It was traditionally tied in a lot with the puritan society of the 18th century, being the first republic, etc. In some cases it almost suggests that America has exclusive divine right...

Then again, it can be as mild as thinking America is a nice place to live. It really depends in which context it's used.

Albert Di Salvo said:

America was once exceptional because of the fact that virtually all of the euro peon immigrants to America came in opposition to some form of authority. That characteristic distinguished Americans from others. It tied into the frontier experience where govt. was mostly absent.

Those people believed in all the component elements of individual liberty and personal freedom.

But most of those people are gone now. They have been replaced by people who idolize paternalism.

Obama's America isn't worth spit.

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It isn't President Obama's America, whatever it is, good or bad, it has been created by the people who live there. By their standards and by the things they value and want.

And if you read a little history you will find your frontiersmen believed in the component elements of individual wealth, personal power, violence and the sort of 'justice' which came from the barrel of a gun. Those characteristics certainly distinguished pioneer Americans from the people of civilised societies.

Leo said:

It isn't President Obama's America, whatever it is, good or bad, it has been created by the people who live there. By their standards and by the things they value and want.

And if you read a little history you will find your frontiersmen believed in the component elements of individual wealth, personal power, violence and the sort of 'justice' which came from the barrel of a gun. Those characteristics certainly distinguished pioneer Americans from the people of civilised societies.

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Lol... They want something that never existed in the first place. Those westerns of yore weren't known for their historical accuracy. And most of those fine men and women had fleas. And couldn't bathe regularly. And about half the kids never saw their 5th birthday. Many mothers died in child birth. People died by the thousands in flu epidemics and heat waves.

Na, I'm stickin' with this one.

Kev316 said:

Lol... They want something that never existed in the first place. Those westerns of yore weren't known for their historical accuracy. And most of those fine men and women had fleas. And couldn't bathe regularly. And about half the kids never saw their 5th birthday. Many mothers died in child birth. People died by the thousands in flu epidemics and heat waves.

Na, I'm stickin' with this one.

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LOL! Sir has made a wise choice. :lol:

SirPwn4lot said:

America isn't exceptional in the world. Many nations now have similar, and in many cases better rights. Average income, income equality, freedom of the press, defense spending are all better in other places. Why is America cool? Well for one they've been quite stringent in their defense of free speech (although the whole Wikileaks controversy makes me doubt this seriously), the people are nice, it's a large country, has nice scenery, etc. I like it.

In the foreign policy sense I couldn't disagree more with American Exceptionalism.

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^^^^^^

This.