I agree. I fall into that category, as do many, many others. But there are plenty of people out there who are so ra-ra about their country that they end up becoming apathetic about the rights and wellbeing of people from other countries.
Yup. Egocentric bias: The tendency to overstress changes between the past and present in order to make ourselves look better than what we really are. Also favoring circumstances that are beneficial to oneself compared to those that favor to the people around them Self-serving attributional bias: Individuals attributing their successes to internal or personal factors but attributing their failures to external or situational factors. Here are some prime examples of American exceptionalism being make believe: Is the sky green? The notion of American self reliance is absurd. There are few other countries whose citizens rely on others to provide them with the most basic means of survival. Being completely reliant on society is by definition the opposite of self-reliance. "Our model citizen is a sophisticate who, before puberty, understands how to produce a baby, but who at the age of thirty will not know how to produce a potato" -Wendell Berry It's not 1787 anymore. Welcome to 2013, where those ideals are ceremonial at best. Not exceptional for developed countries. We were exceptionally late on all of these unless you're a white male. Quantify this so that I can understand it as something other than a jackass who believes his opinions are truths, please. People who share these views make it embarrassing the be an American. The saddest part is that we have it in ourselves to be exceptional, but instead of addressing the faults that keep us from being just that, people would rather glorify past accomplishments with baseless, sensationalist claims. If you believe this nation is exceptional to the rest, you're not paying attention.
Our leaders were well educated, but initially we were not, at all. I don't think that even becomes a priority until after the Civil War and having to empower devastated Southern whites who lost their entire economic system before the second Industrial Revolution, and of course in trying to assimilate freedmen and Native Americans. Freedom initially just meant a non-hereditary government structure; it eventually evolved as the majority became prosperous enough for other groups to not be deemed a threat, and as the other colonial powers either sold off, commingled and evacuated or just imploded.
You are right, actually: not necessarily. http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/nationalism/ (I love the Stanford online philosophy dictionary, btw. It has some amazingly good entries.)
Thanks for that resource. I'm going to enjoy it You're spot on though. Exceptionalism is just an unfortunately common byproduct of nationalism. A society insulating itself from other cultures is almost a suggestion that there are aspects that need protection from outside corruption. It enforces that framing bias in people, even though exceptionalism isn't a fundamental condition.
Nuclear fission was discovered by Otto Hahn and his assistant Fritz Strassmann. It was then explained theoretically by Lise Meitner and her nephew Otto Robert Frisch. Europeans learned how to split an atom. We were just the first to wreak havoc with the knowledge. Bravo.
So, I read this entire thread and only TWO posts hinted at even the slightest understanding of what the term "American Exceptionalism" refers to. Don't they teach civics anymore? This article explains it in a fairly succinct way: http://harvardpolitics.com/united-states/understanding-american-exceptionalism/ It has nothing to do with us being "better" than other nations. It has more to do with the uniqueness of our founding - that we are a nation founded upon ideals - and our unique departure from history in our political and social development. You can find more decent reading on it here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/books/chap1/americanexceptionalism.htm I do find it interesting that virtually every liberal here who appears to think that the term refers to us being "better" than other nations thinks the answer is a resounding "no". It's very telling about how you guys actually feel about this nation. And you ought to travel more...
Appreciate the explanation of the term's origins. But in modern political discourse, particularly on the Right, it is understood that our "exceptionalism" is what makes us "the greatest country on earth". They go hand in hand. Questioning the idea of "American exceptionalism" is, at the same time, lowering the status of America, a major offense for a public figure.
All countries founded by revolutions are based on the same "idea" that the previous rulers or ways of doing things were wrong. Our Founders were prescient enough to anticipate the obsolescence of apportioning land and dynastic power based on military service, realigning geopolitical allegiances and national sovereignty after every wedding and delegating legal and political administration to the clergy a century before everyone else; but half the globe eventually got on board and did the same thing. Also bear in mind that progress does not occur without first questioning institutions and mores, and society's allegiance or compliance therewith. This is mutually inclusive with comparing one's country unfavorably to others. If conservatives had understood that, they might not have dropped the ball on every social issue of the 20th century.
It's doesn't necesarrily imply superiority, but it's been widley used in that sense regardless of party affiliation. See; Conservative Presidential Nominee Herman Cain who I'm betting you would have voted for despite his usage of the term to argue US superiority. In fact, I'd encourage you to read Seymour Martin Lipset's "American Exceptionalism: A Double-Edged Sword," which discusses this very topic. Perhaps a little insight on just how often it's used in the manner that so offended you will help you see the issues beyond technical usage the term. Also, I've traveled plenty. I do it for a living. I love my country, and that's exactly why people using flawed logic to support delusions of grandeur pisses me off.
