American "Exceptionalism"?

[BlueStreak]

"Exceptionalism" is little more than tool used to establish and maintain a status quo, in my mind.

To illustrate;

"We don't need to change a thing. The way we do things is what makes us exceptional."

In otherwords, it is little more than a mechanism employed by those who wish to resist any form of change. A psychological trick. It can be used in past tense as well.

As thus;

"America was at it's best in the Good ol' Days. We were exceptional then and we have lost that because of all that has changed since then."

It boxes ones mind into a condition or time perceived as ideal and desirable, whether it really is/was.................or not.

You can find people in Russia who yearn for a return to the Soviet Union days because they feel a "loss of greatness (exceptionalism)" occurred when the USSR fell. The "Good ol' Days", when everybody feared them.

But, were they really better off back then?

Dave

[merrylander]

Originally Posted by piece-itpete

So the lefts' campaign slogan will be, 'America - we suck'? 'America - Europe is better'?

I don't mean to be rude but I don't understand the POV. Why does our success irritate the left?

Pete

Our success do not irritate the left, but the general NIH factor is a PITA.

[merrylander]

Originally Posted by piece-itpete

Carl, you look surprised!

Comparing apples to apples with previous empires is impossible, we are 'enlightened' and do not subjegate other people the way they did not so long ago.

One good way to consider it is how will historians see it? We'll be more compared with Rome than the British Empire, my thought.

Pete

I recall the words of a fellow Quebecer talking about the Iron Ore mines. He said sure those &^%$# Yanks, they get the ore and we get the shaft. A lot of that kind of crap changed When Mitchell Sharp becaose Minister of Trade, I believe the expession down here was "Sharp is his name and sharp is his game". Not all subjugation is done at the point of a gun.

[d-ray657]

Maybe those on the left and the right can take a few days to appreciate the exceptional example of American spirit that was demonstrated by Seal Team 6.

Regards,

D-Ray

[noonereal]

Originally Posted by d-ray657

Maybe those on the left and the right can take a few days to appreciate the exceptional example of American spirit that was demonstrated by Seal Team 6.

Regards,

D-Ray

I think all Americans are proud of these guys.

[finnbow]

Originally Posted by noonereal

I think all Americans are proud of these guys.

No kidding. Can you imagine the 'tang they'd get if they could reveal their identities and just start hanging out at college bars?

[bhunter]

Originally Posted by d-ray657

Maybe those on the left and the right can take a few days to appreciate the exceptional example of American spirit that was demonstrated by Seal Team 6.

Regards,

D-Ray

I once attended a Superbowl party with a bunch of USN Seals. A great group of dedicated guys. Sadly, several that were there got shot up at the beginning of the Afgan action. The following from Rich Galen sums up my opinion of them.

From Rich Galen in reference to BUDS training:

"At one point late in the series when the ranks had been thinned by about two-thirds through resignation or injury, one of the instructors said: "We have to watch them very closely from here on out. The ones who have made it this far will die before they quit."

Those are the guys who made their way to Abbottobad on Sunday. They would have died before they quit.

Think about that the next time you complain about your in-box having become intolerable."

[noonereal]

Originally Posted by finnbow

No kidding. Can you imagine the 'tang they'd get if they could reveal their identities and just start hanging out at college bars?

lol, yep

but I gotta think their identity should not be revealed for their own good

[finnbow]

Originally Posted by noonereal

lol, yep

but I gotta think their identity should not be revealed for their own good

True dat.

[flacaltenn]

This is all your fault guys.. All this America bashing has led to this disaster...

http://www.comicsalliance.com/2011/0...s-citizenship/

I hope your proud of yourselves....

Truth! Justice! and the ________ Way!