Is the USA Unique and Exceptional (American Exceptionalism)

[wmw999 2,587]

American Exceptionalism is a concept that the US is a unique and exceptional national construct, better in every way (or nearly so) than other countries. Here is an article that tries to point out some of its flaws, and here is the official GOP platform statement about it.

Thoughts? Are we unique and special cupcakes, or really just like any other old cupcake, subject to the same problems and issues?

Wendy P.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[DanG 1]

America is exceptional. Americans, not so much.

- Dan G

[RonD1120 62]

Our flag represents an ideology not conquered territory.

My sadness and fear is that many people today want us to be like every other country, especially those in Europe.

Look for the shiny things of God revealed by the Holy Spirit. They only last for an instant but it is a Holy Instant. Let your soul absorb them.

[kcjen24 0]

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America is exceptional. Americans, not so much.

+1

[airdvr 210]

Being that I'm in the upper reaches of the age spectrum here I can say that the US used to be unique and exceptional. I'm certain the 'trophy for everyone' crowd will disagree. Our own president does not want anyone to be exceptional, rather everyone to be equal. That's a ton of dumbing down for most.

I grew up during the space program and can remember when there seemed to be no limit to what we could achieve if we were allowed. We were unique and exceptional. Unfortunately, for there to be a winner there must in turn be a loser. And being the winner has been turned around and is now equated with a negative. We can't have any losers because they'll feel bad so we need to eliminate the winners. When we started down that path we lost our uniqueness and exceptionalism.

Please don't dent the planet.

Destinations by Roxanne

[quade 4]

American was exceptional in 1776.

As democracy has spread across the globe it is no longer exceptional, but instead a standard, both in form of government and, for the vast majority, lifestyle. In some areas America has fallen behind the times, almost tragically so in a couple very specific ones.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[wmw999 2,587]

I also grew up during the space program, as well as spending part of that time overseas (i.e. got some comparison in).

America is exceptional in some ways, not in others. Kind of like every other country. We've over-emphasized the ways in which it is, without ensuring that they can continue.

Much of our early wealth and mobility was tied to the vast expanses of empty land, just waiting to be taken from the natives and cultivated -- most people with any significant amount of gumption could get a start out there. Then came the explosion of physical invention and innovation (i.e. things that are big enough and simple enough that non-PhD's can invent them).

But both of those are scarcer and scarcer; it takes more education to really understand the technology of today, and there isn't a lot of easy land available that doesn't require money to acquire. So some of our exceptionalism has gone.

The space program was exceptional; I'm all in favor of the current move on the part of the government to start to move parts of it into the private sector -- that's working a whole lot faster than I thought it would.

Circumstances made us exceptional. We have to protect those circumstances, and not just stand on our assumed exceptionalism. Just as the British aristocracy doesn't mean too much any more, neither will American Exceptionalism if we don't keep making it work in the real and current world.

Wendy P.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[quade 4]

I think we ought to also understand what is meant by the term. It does NOT mean that America is "better" for this reason over that or that we have free reign to do what we want because the rules don't apply to us. Okay, maybe in the minds of some people that's what it means, but not in traditional political science terminology.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_exceptionalism

Again, we used to be exceptional, because we were THE exception in the world, but that was way back in 1776. We are no longer exceptional.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[dmcoco84 5]

So ah, Wendy...

Am I correct in my assumption (though, now, given further weight from reviewing your last post) that you have not yet read the Two Treatises of Government, after I spoke of it and made all those posts regarding limited government and the likes...?

[beowulf 1]

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US is a unique and exceptional national construct

That part is true.

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better in every way (or nearly so) than other countries.

That is an opinon that some people have.


The US is subject to similar problems and issues as other countries but not exactly the same problems and issues because no two countries are exactly alike.

[Skyrad 0]

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Our flag represents an ideology not conquered territory.

My sadness and fear is that many people today want us to be like every other country, especially those in Europe.

Well theres nothing wrong with raising your standards.

When an author is too meticulous about his style, you may presume that his mind is frivolous and his content flimsy.
Lucius Annaeus Seneca

[kallend 2,147]

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I think we ought to also understand what is meant by the term. It does NOT mean that America is "better" for this reason over that or that we have free reign to do what we want because the rules don't apply to us. Okay, maybe in the minds of some people that's what it means, but not in traditional political science terminology.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_exceptionalism

Again, we used to be exceptional, because we were THE exception in the world, but that was way back in 1776. We are no longer exceptional.

When one major party wholeheartedly embraces an anti-science, anti-intellectual agenda, and puts up people like Akin, Walsh, Mourdock, Ryan and Broun for major office, what exactly are we to expect?

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[christelsabine 1]

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Our flag represents an ideology not conquered territory.

My sadness and fear is that many people today want us to be like every other country, especially those in Europe.

Well theres nothing wrong with raising your standards.

Should be repeated more often ....

dudeist skydiver # 3105

[jgoose71 0]

The U.S. as a country is unique and Exceptional. We were the first country to have a peaceful transition of leadership and develop a government that was accountable to the people (though how accountable now a days is up for debate).

That combination along with our military might is what has helped the stability and the ability to have free trade across the world. No other country keeps 2 bit dictators like those in Myanmar or North Korea in check. No other country has done as much to prevent Piracy from spilling out of Africa into the Indian Ocean and choking off trade through the Suez Canal. And France would not have been able to lead the charge into Libya without the U.S. to help with Command and Control.

If you don't understand the importance of America in today's world, well, we'll elect BHO for 4 more years, continue to withdraw from the world and let the rest of the world fend for it's self. Good luck with the "Arab Spring."

"There is an art, it says, or, rather, a knack to flying. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss."
Life, the Universe, and Everything