@treeman: Whoops... well, you used Seymore as a reference, but maybe you didn't quite understand it. No I was referring to it's initial use, and your willingness to overlook the fact that it wasn't an American discovery.
I agree. There are two types of liberals on this forum: the half-educated blowhards who are the megaphones for their college professors, and the international quasi-socialists who inherently believe in the wickedness of America.
Since it appeared as though you only read the portion of American Exceptionalism: A Double-Edged Sword in the article you reference(A couple pages) I decided to go back and find a little excerpt that wasn't included for you. It's from the conclusion of chapter 5 named (Ironically in this case since you aimed to make liberals look stupid by referencing it) "American Intellectuals-Mostly on the Left, Some Politically Incorrect" "Social conservatives in this country are much more aggressive in their efforts to impose their morality on the body politic with respect to issues like the right to life than their ideological compeers elsewhere, even in predominantly Catholic countries like Italy, France, or West Germany. Such repressive aspects of American culture may be related to two exceptional national characteristics discussed earlier: first, the utopian ideological context of the American Creed, which defines the country in ways that nations characterized by a common history, not an ideology, lack; and second, the predominance in the United States of Protestant sectarianism, a minority elsewhere in Christendom." So while American exceptionalism is "that we are a nation founded upon ideals" in a general sense, those very ideals ARE predicated on the notion that what we've created is superior to others. Utopian. Now, since you were clearly wrong in this case, I'd bet you will forget it ever took place. Guys like you and Bigtexxx have established a clear history of calling out liberals(anyone who doesn't agree with you), while suffering from accute amnesia when it comes to your own fallacies. Of course, not all the conservatives here are woefully entrenched in their self-serving bias', but the loudest of them seem to be. At least most of the liberals here aren't so crippled by their opinions of themselves that they're willing to acknowledge instances when they're incorrect.
You've certainly proven there's at least one type of moron. I still don't get conservatives who resent higher education, then b**** and whine when a half-dozen ******s get in ahead of them or their kids.
Dividing all Americans into "liberals" or "conservatives" is like dividing all basketball fans into Lakers or Celtics fans.
The Romans at the time were certainly just as unique and exceptional as we are today. Same thing with the British empire. We are just the current version of the power. The US power will one day be no more just like any other empire, to be replaced by another super power in the future, the wheels of the history will keep on turning and not miss a beat.
Somebody who admits that they a have high blood pressure, cholesterol and heart issues does not mean he hates himself. Just like the cliche, to solve a problem, you will need to first admit you have one.
You can also come up a phrasing with indiviual "unique" characteristics for most first-world countries - does that make them exceptional too? What's the "norm" here - England/UK? Why?
Totally agree. The term "do as the Romans do" refers to what non Romans say to become more accepted in society. They looked at Romans as 'exceptional' and a model for how their culture should be patterned on how to live morally, economically and militarily.
And managed to kill off millions of the natives that lived off this verdant continent in the process...respecting the opinions of the minority indeed!
I feel it is, but to invoke it in a slogan or catchphrase means that we're losing those traits and calling upon the past to drudge up false or fleeting feelings in order to rally a less than exceptional base.
Exceptional does not mean rational, moral or exemplary. The fact that the US is the lone Super Power defines us as exceptional, not to mention the moon landing, the shear mass of agriculture, scientific advancement, democratic values and free speech, willingness to sacrifice, willingness to fund charity etc. Go anywhere in the world and the people will know about the US. Could you say the same about, say, Brazil? A country with about as much in the way of natural blessings as the US.
As I've seen this discussion framed for current events, it's always been about moral authority to act....not achievement.
I am confused. Isn't "democratic rule respecting the opinions of the populace both majority and minority" a rational and moral value that you used in one of your post? Super power militarily and in making movies? Because as far as I know those are the only things we are dominant at. Moon landing? This confirms my earlier comments about "living in the past". Agriculture - china and India has a ton more mouths to feed. You think they need us to supply them? Scientific advancement - name me one field of science which American scientists know more than the rest of the world Democracy and speech - no longer unique to Americans Sacrifice and charity - looks like u might have contradicted yourself once again. These are moral values that according to you, should not be part of the categories. You mean the country that currently has the fastest growing economy? Has the biggest banks in the world? Amazon? Will host the next summer Olympics? Democratic? Racial discrimination is very low? Has the most one named famous athletes like Pele, Nene, etc? I know, the last one was just...meh.
ex·cep·tion·al adjective 1. unusual; not typical. There are approximately 196 countries in the world, name one that is exceptional on multiple categories that the US is not exceptional in also. i.e. military power, democracy, scientific innovation, quality of life, economic power, agricultural production, culture and the arts, idealism, opportunity, egalitarianism I'm not saying the US is in anyway an ideal, I'm just saying it is an exceptional country.
Is the US really that exceptional in democracy? A number of countries, including Canada, have higher rankings in the Economist's Democracy Index. America's elected representatives spend hours each day calling (as opposed to being called by) special interests, offering access and votes in exchange for money. A good chunk of our ambassadorships are openly sold to the highest bidder, a practice that is indeed 'exceptional' among developed countries and which weakens our relationships with our closest allies. We certainly aren't exceptional in egalitarianism. Among developed countries, we're fourth to last (31st out of 34) in income equality.
