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-   -   American "Exceptionalism"? (http://www.politicalchat.org/showthread.php?t=1498)

finnbow 07-21-2010 01:55 PM

American "Exceptionalism"?
 
Obama continues to receive a ration of shit from the right wing for providing this answer to a query from a British reporter while in France last year concerning his feeling about American Exceptionalism, —“just as I suspect that the Brits believe in British exceptionalism and the Greeks believe in Greek exceptionalism.”

What are your feelings about American Exceptionalism and the right wing's demands that American political figures must expound their adherance to this notion? Personally, I think it's tiresome and silly. Somehow they seem to feel that if you don't believe that America is exceptional (whatever that means), you're unpatriotic and unfit for public office.

In my years overseas, I have yet to travel to or live in a first-world nation that doesn't believe it's somehow exceptional. I just wish the right wing would cut the jingoistic crap.

Here's an interesting take on the subject.

What's your take on it?

Charles 07-21-2010 02:43 PM

Personally, I enjoy living in the shining city on the hill, surrounded by 1,000 points of light. The land of the free, and the home of the brave. Forty acres and a mule, with a chicken in every pot.

America ain't so bad, other than the "exceptional" amount of bullshit our politicians pump out.

Chas

noonereal 07-21-2010 02:54 PM

anyone (or group) that needs to believe such things are inherently insecure and arrogant.

We are just a bunch of folks who cling together like any other bunch of folks.
Only thing exceptional about us is our economic strength (thanks to the blue states) and our determination to live in the past (thanks to our red states).

Charles 07-21-2010 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by noonereal (Post 34198)
anyone (or group) that needs to believe such things are inherently insecure and arrogant.

We are just a bunch of folks who cling together like any other bunch of folks.
Only thing exceptional about us is our economic strength (thanks to the blue states) and our determination to live in the past (thanks to our red states).

Say Noon, ever think about getting a manure spreader for your property?

Chas

And no, I haven't started drinking yet!!!

noonereal 07-21-2010 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charles (Post 34199)
Say Noon, ever think about getting a manure spreader for your property?

I stand by my comments. (and my strongest statement I deleted before I posted)

Guess you needed to attack me as the post was accurate.

and I ain't had a drink in 17 months! (but I ain't proud of it:D)

finnbow 07-21-2010 03:12 PM

In the words of George Bernard Shaw, "Patriotism is your conviction that this country is superior to all other countries because you were born in it." I think the same applies to those who insist upon American (or German or French or Japanese or Russian) exceptionalism.

piece-itpete 07-21-2010 03:15 PM

Although I would never be such a bore to agrue it with a foreign national, anyone who cracks a history book can see there are elements of our history that are certainly exceptional.

This as a statement of fact.

Pete

finnbow 07-21-2010 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by piece-itpete (Post 34208)
Although I would never be such a bore to agrue it with a foreign national, anyone who cracks a history book can see there are elements of our history that are certainly exceptional.

This as a statement of fact.

Pete

Yep. Same applies to English and French history AFAIK. What is curious is that the same right wing that openly espouses disgust/hatred of our government concurrently says that our form of government is exceptional. Which one is it?

Charles 07-21-2010 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by piece-itpete (Post 34208)
Although I would never be such a bore to agrue it with a foreign national, anyone who cracks a history book can see there are elements of our history that are certainly exceptional.

This as a statement of fact.

Pete

Damn right. We went out and kicked everybody's ass and made 'em like it!!!

Chas

piece-itpete 07-21-2010 03:36 PM

Yes, all those other countries were the first to shake the shackles of tyranny and form a Republic.

There are elements of the left that openly expouse anarchy, you know.

Pete


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