American Exceptionalism -Forward this to Everyone You Know
Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2014 10:32 pm
American Exceptionalism
I have sent this twice to The Oklahoman (OPUBCO) in Oklahoma City and twice it has been rejected. This was sent in response to their misinformed article on American Exceptionalism and a publication from Vladimir Putin wherein he depicted our exceptionalism on wealth and energy. This publication, as well as thousands of other accepted his definition of the meaning of the phrase.
Vladimir Putin’s misunderstanding of “American Exceptionalism” can be excused. He has limited history of the US and our government.
Regrettably, when you allow someone else’s definition of a word or concept to override the original meaning, you allow it to become what is accepted and to supplant what was originally intended. Politicians no longer lie, they misspeak. More appalling is that the more often a lie is repeated the more it becomes accepted as fact. The acceptance of Putin’s “misspeak” is an example.
Do some homework (not Google someone’s opinion) but some real delving into what “American Exceptionalism” was and still is.
Prior to the independence of the United States every nation, country or tribe had one thing in common. Either a single person or a select few ruled all. Israel, under the leadership of Moses and later, some leaders of the Israelis tried to change this but the people wanted a king, someone to rule over them. The evil empires around them had a king and they wanted one too. God told them they were stupid but they insisted. Since God knew that you couldn’t fix stupid, He let them do what they wanted – to their dismay and destruction. Every civilization since had a ruler. The people did what the ruler wanted and had no choice. The people were the servants of whomever was in power. That’s Putin’s history and his perspective.
America, with it’s Declaration of Independence and Constitution, became the exception: hence the phrase, “American Exceptionalism”. The rulers were there to serve the people. Those elected were no longer rulers but servants. For the first time is recorded history, the people weren’t there to serve the rulers. That created the opportunity for education, creation of wealth by others who were not wealthy, job opportunity, moving out of poverty to self-sufficiency, exploration that benefited the individual not just the state, commerce, invention and even independent art – yes art. Until then no artist succeeded without a benefactor who was either a powerful Catholic church or government official. That was what made America Exceptional; not the achievements that were a result of that change in who served whom. It was the opportunities that resulted from that reversal of who was in power. It was a complete reversal of what the world had known. That is what “American Exceptionalism” means. American was and is exceptional in how it is governed. The meaning has not changed.
If you ascribe to Putin’s definition of the term, which President Obama clearly does, then you lose sight of a very important concept that has enabled this nation and all it’s citizens, native-born, legal immigrants and even illegal immigrants to succeed. Perhaps the illegal immigrants grasp this better than native-born citizens. They come here by the thousands that have grown into millions because they know that this country still offers a way to improve their lives because they are not subjugated to those in power, i.e., the government.
I have sent this twice to The Oklahoman (OPUBCO) in Oklahoma City and twice it has been rejected. This was sent in response to their misinformed article on American Exceptionalism and a publication from Vladimir Putin wherein he depicted our exceptionalism on wealth and energy. This publication, as well as thousands of other accepted his definition of the meaning of the phrase.
Vladimir Putin’s misunderstanding of “American Exceptionalism” can be excused. He has limited history of the US and our government.
Regrettably, when you allow someone else’s definition of a word or concept to override the original meaning, you allow it to become what is accepted and to supplant what was originally intended. Politicians no longer lie, they misspeak. More appalling is that the more often a lie is repeated the more it becomes accepted as fact. The acceptance of Putin’s “misspeak” is an example.
Do some homework (not Google someone’s opinion) but some real delving into what “American Exceptionalism” was and still is.
Prior to the independence of the United States every nation, country or tribe had one thing in common. Either a single person or a select few ruled all. Israel, under the leadership of Moses and later, some leaders of the Israelis tried to change this but the people wanted a king, someone to rule over them. The evil empires around them had a king and they wanted one too. God told them they were stupid but they insisted. Since God knew that you couldn’t fix stupid, He let them do what they wanted – to their dismay and destruction. Every civilization since had a ruler. The people did what the ruler wanted and had no choice. The people were the servants of whomever was in power. That’s Putin’s history and his perspective.
America, with it’s Declaration of Independence and Constitution, became the exception: hence the phrase, “American Exceptionalism”. The rulers were there to serve the people. Those elected were no longer rulers but servants. For the first time is recorded history, the people weren’t there to serve the rulers. That created the opportunity for education, creation of wealth by others who were not wealthy, job opportunity, moving out of poverty to self-sufficiency, exploration that benefited the individual not just the state, commerce, invention and even independent art – yes art. Until then no artist succeeded without a benefactor who was either a powerful Catholic church or government official. That was what made America Exceptional; not the achievements that were a result of that change in who served whom. It was the opportunities that resulted from that reversal of who was in power. It was a complete reversal of what the world had known. That is what “American Exceptionalism” means. American was and is exceptional in how it is governed. The meaning has not changed.
If you ascribe to Putin’s definition of the term, which President Obama clearly does, then you lose sight of a very important concept that has enabled this nation and all it’s citizens, native-born, legal immigrants and even illegal immigrants to succeed. Perhaps the illegal immigrants grasp this better than native-born citizens. They come here by the thousands that have grown into millions because they know that this country still offers a way to improve their lives because they are not subjugated to those in power, i.e., the government.