American Exceptionalism -Forward this to Everyone You Know

[davebodner]

There's too much to respond to. I'm just raising my hand as being embarrassed, insulted and alarmed as an American, a Shopsmith owner, and a computer user.

[db5]

I think this american exceptionalism stuff is overrated. We are not exceptional. At least not from the outside looking in. Putin doesn't see the exceptionalism. It's like we think we are the hottest girl in school but the one dude who doesnt agree is the one with the problem. Putin is that dude..Who said we were exceptional anyway? That's the very self important tag that makes other countries hate us.
Btw, if our president could carry himself with the same self assured attitude that Putin does we may very well be able to back up the nonsense we tout. But we don't, we are out of money, and we have a knack of being in the role of international police officer. And that job doesn't seem to pay.

Obviously you missed the point or didn't read what Exceptionalism originally was. America was the exception to every form of government that existed anywhere on this planet. Americans did not have a ruler over them; they were the exception and were over the rulers. That's all it means. If that overrated then explain how having rulers over us is better.

[heathicus]

http://youtu.be/nuv0K8H8ILM

[holsgo]

Didn't miss it at all. Know just what it's supposed to mean.
Just saying, if you are Putin, or any other leader, looking in at America and we tout our "exceptionalism", without the context, it sounds like we are chest beating.
That's what I'm saying.

[heathicus]

We have a lot to beat our chests about.


Well, used to anyway.

[wa2crk]

What country in the history of the world, that, after defeating it's enemies, then held it's hand out and assisted those enemies out of the defeat and restored dignity to those natons.
If you don't know the answer think of the country you live in!!!!
Bill V

[JPG]

There's too much to respond to. I'm just raising my hand as being embarrassed, insulted and alarmed as an American, a Shopsmith owner, and a computer user.

Why?:) Which post(s)?

[JPG]

Didn't miss it at all. Know just what it's supposed to mean.
Just saying, if you are Putin, or any other leader, looking in at America and we tout our "exceptionalism", without the context, it sounds like we are chest beating.
That's what I'm saying.

I have to agree, but, in the context of what has been recently 'covered' in the media.

However, the starting post clearly was about that to begin with and was discrediting that 'coverage' and the misuse of the term.

This county is(was) exceptional, but not in the arrogant sense that may be perceived by 'others'.

[idcook]

To fully delve into what may be truly exceptional about the United States of America might require too lengthy a post to avoid exceeding reasonable usage of the space allotted or taxing the patience of forum members.

If I were to attempt a short grasp it would likely have to do with equal protection under law.

Though many express dismay with the varying results of the effort, and the nation thus remaining imperfect in its establishment, it nevertheless continues to strive to that end.

Those who feel that America isn’t what it used to be may unwittingly be expressing a rather complete lack of awareness of the nation’s history. That this bent toward egalitarianism and human equality, inherited in large part from European intellectuals, was established due to the forming nation’s inhabitants desiring that there be no individual or group entirely empowered to exercise unlimited control of their lives, exact unjust duties and laws. As it were, in time, not even citizens themselves would be allowed to act unreasonably toward any other persons, citizens or otherwise.

Equal protection under law, if it may be said that there can even be such a thing, despite often presenting the nation and its citizens with seeming unfamiliar and uncomfortable circumstances, choices and results is variably maintained.

Only this can be sincerely recognized as an exceptional environment in a nation among nations.

[davebodner]

Why?:) Which post(s)?

QUOTE=JPG40504]Why?:) Which post(s)?[/QUOTE]
Let's start with the subject line. Please don't forward anything to everyone you know. That's spam. I can't imagine that even 10% of the people I know would be interested in any one thing I might have to say.

I think IDCook has critiqued the original post. The US experiment wasn't newly created out of whole cloth. It represented a continuation of ideas developed over centuries. Most European monarchs weren't absolute tyrants--they were accountable to constituents. Certainly not to the extent we think of today. But, then, neither was the US. The electorate in the newly formed US was only a minority of residents, mostly limited to land-owning white men of the right religion. The American Revolution managed to lop off the top of the pyramid of power, but the power structure within each state remained mostly unchanged. What was presented is a child's-eye view that doesn't stand up historically.

Then there's the bogus Stalin quote. No way would he have said that. It's too complimentary of the US.

Of course what set me off was the contention that the Left is responsible for all that's bad in America today. I'll admit I reacted a bit emotionally to that post--and others like it in other threads. The continuing attempt to vilify large portions of the US is tiresome.

The saddest part is the view that the US is less worthy than we used to be. Some things may be worse. But many are better. It's easy to view the past through rose-colored glasses. But, we've overcome serious challenges in our recent past. I get as frustrated with our political process as you do (though we disagree on the causes or the proper actions). But, notwithstanding any mistakes we've made in the past or the present, I'm still proud of us.