I Don't Get This American Exceptionalism Garp!!!

[DemocracyInaction]

In fact it disgusts me. How arrogant. We are "exceptionally" ignorant; "exceptionally" violent; "exceptionally" bigoted; "exceptionally uninsured" and unhealthy; "exceptionally" hateful; "exceptionally" unable to reason; "exceptionally" violent to our children; "exceptionally" waring on women; "exceptionally" greedy; "exceptionally" underpaid and we have one hell of an "exceptional" income gap in this country. My God, this country needs to grow up and stop this fairy tale garbage that is flushing us ever towards the bottom! We are sad clowns....

[phantom power]

1. but we're *exceptionally* sad clowns

[lob1]

2. Were so damned exceptional, we don't need a good education anymore.

[DemocracyInaction]

4. lob 1 Bingo

The Exceptional Fairy will take care of it all............

[JHB]

3. They forget that exceptionalism requires _acting_ exceptional

You have to actually earn it. It ain't hereditary.

[dkf]

5. If we aren't exceptional why do we consume so much more of the world's resources per capita?

I think you are rightfully expecting reversion to the mean.

[Iggo]

6. I can only imagine...

...the level of insecurity that I'd have to reach before I demanded that people see me as exceptional merely because I exist.

[JoePhilly]

7. Nice rant ... now take a few deep breaths.

The reason that the crazy far right pushes the "American Exceptionalism" meme is so that poor white Americans can see their sad lot in life as patriotic.

America is a great country. America is probably the country most responsible for advancing freedom around the world. But, that by no means makes America perfect.

I think Al Franken said (paraphrasing) that Republicans view Americans the way a child views their mother, perfect, can do no wrong, and loves her unconditionally. And he said that liberals love America the way that an adult loves their spouse, a love that is also unconditional, but that recognizes their spouse's short coming, and their own, and that hopefully, they can move forward together, each getting better as a result.

The GOP version of this reminds me of an old SNL bit in which Will Ferrel wears a "I'm #1" hat, and beautiful woman flock to him ... that's today's GOP.

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(this is not the #1 skit image .. but it sort of fits here)

[MissMarple]

12. I can't erase that visual image from my brain!

But Al Franken does make a cogent point.

[JoePhilly]

14. I almost felt bad posting that image ... almost.

But its too funny.

[Swamp Lover]

8. Actually, we are not "exceptionally" any of those things.

But because of the promise that this nations shows, it is a shame that we are "run-of-the mill" any of those things.

[deaniac21]

9. Actually, we really suck.

I'm so poorly educated that I don't know what a garp is....

[hifiguy]

10. No one with an ounce of brains buys into it.

We're no better than anyone else, and often worse than many in the developed world (health care, infant mortality, income inequality, dirty elections, etc, etc).

It's just bullshit on stilts and steroids.

[MissMarple]

11. What we did do exceptionally well was establish a democratic republic...

And maintain it long enough to begin spreading liberal ideals around the world. Who knows, maybe they will circle back around.

Darn! Ipad fingers again!

[L0oniX]

13. I take "exception" to that.

Pride comes before the down fall!

I hate those "Power of Pride" stickers. They are the mark of the stupid.