American exceptionalism doesn't mean that all Americans are exceptional.

[ProSense]

Reposting:

Religious right leader backs Russian crackdown on gay rights

By Steve Benen

The crackdown on gay rights on Russia is stunning in its scope, and offers a reminder that Russia "remains a country where discrimination and even violence against gay people are widely tolerated." But while much of the West has condemned Vladimir Putin's new efforts, the offensive is not without American backers.

Voice of Russia is the government's official international radio broadcasting service, and last week, it ran a report touting comments from the American Family Association's Bryan Fischer, a prominent leader of the religious right movement here in the U.S., who spoke to VOR at some length.

"Russia is not being homophobic, it's homorealistic -- the Russian government is trying to take the issue into consideration and establish public policy to contribute to public health, as this lifestyle is not be promoted, endorsed or granted special legal protection", the expert said, warning of high health risks linked to this lifestyle.

He cites the Center for Disease Control that has monitored the HIV epidemic since 1987 and determined that 61% of HIV-positive males had sexual contacts with other males. "Homosexual behavior is just as risky as drug abuse," Fischer said.

"I think the Russian government is right to be concerned with propaganda on teenagers who are at the age of struggling through sexual identity issue and we should help to channel these urges in productive behavior. Heterosexuality is God's design. Policies that encourage young people to think this are good ideas."

<...>

Note, Fischer's not the only one in the U.S. cheering Russia on. As we talked about a while back, the Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute said it "admires" Russia's anti-gay moves; Peter LaBarbera of Americans for Truth About Homosexuality lauded Russia for rejecting "America's reckless and decadent promotion of gender confusion"; and the Illinois-based World Congress of Families has scheduled its 2014 conference for the Kremlin...then, of course, there's evangelical activist Scott Lively...sounds familiar, it's probably because of his work in Uganda, where he brags he is known as the "father" of the anti-gay movements. When Uganda took up a "Kill the Gays" bill, proponents said it arose out of an anti-gay conference that Lively headlined in 2009. Earlier this year, the Washington Post reported that Lively has spent the last decade working "systematically to strip away human rights protections from LGBT people" around the world, becoming "a kind of persecution consultant, strategizing with influential leaders and cohorts in other countries about ways to further silence and remove LGBT people from basic protections of the law."

And wouldn't you know it, Lively conducted a 50-city speaking tour of Russia in 2007, where he recommended the very measures Russia is now pursuing. From an AP report last year:

"Russia could become a model pro-family society," he wrote. "If this were to occur, I believe people from the West would begin to emigrate to Russia in the same way that Russians used to emigrate to the United States and Europe." <...>

"Russians, even after glasnost, are comfortable with an authoritarian style," he said. "That wouldn't work in the United States."

- more -

http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/08/12/19989091-religious-right-leader-backs-russian-crackdown-on-gay-rights

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023450229

[JI7]

1. yup, i don't know why people seem to think that term means each individual american

is better than anyone else.

[Rex]

2. Some Americans are exceptionally stupid.

Like this one;


or this special turd, exceptionally insane;

[ProSense]

13. Yes, like those in the OP, and Russia seems happy to embrace them. n/t

[cali]

3. I don't think you have a clue as to what American Exceptionalism is.

[ProSense]

4. "I don't think you have a clue..."

I'm sure the people praising Putin's silly interpretation do.

[cali]

5. which has nothing to do with your lack of understanding.

[ProSense]

7. I think you're confusing your silly notions with my "understanding." n/t

[Electric Monk]

6. Reading the OP I was just thinking the exact same thing

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_exceptionalism

[ProSense]

8. Are you saying that

American exceptionalism does mean that all Americans are exceptional?

[Electric Monk]

9. I'm saying that the term "American exceptionalism" has nothing at all to do with that as a concept.

Go read the wiki link for more.

[ProSense]

12. Of course it doesn't, which is the point. n/t

[Pretzel_Warrior]

10. Why attack this? Most somewhat well-read people understand the notion of

American exceptionalism. I don't happen to agree with the premise and it's conclusions that somehow the U.S. Is naturally a force for good in the world.

Still, it has roots in a truly exceptional way in which our government was formed and the aspirational documents such as the U.S. constitution and bill of rights.

I'd say on balance in the 20th century the U.S. Was a force for good. We'll see about in the 21st century. We didn't get off to a terrific start in the Bush years.

[ProSense]

11. The problem with

American exceptionalism. I don't happen to agree with the premise and it's conclusions that somehow the U.S. Is naturally a force for good in the world.

Still, it has roots in a truly exceptional way in which our government was formed and the aspirational documents such as the U.S. constitution and bill of rights.

I'd say on balance in the 20th century the U.S. Was a force for good. We'll see about in the 21st century. We didn't get off to a terrific start in the Bush years.

...jumping on the anti-American bandwagon over Putin's op-ed is because he mischaracterized the President's point.

My working and personal relationship with President Obama is marked by growing trust. I appreciate this. I carefully studied his address to the nation on Tuesday. And I would rather disagree with a case he made on American exceptionalism, stating that the United States’ policy is “what makes America different. It’s what makes us exceptional.” It is extremely dangerous to encourage people to see themselves as exceptional, whatever the motivation. There are big countries and small countries, rich and poor, those with long democratic traditions and those still finding their way to democracy. Their policies differ, too. We are all different, but when we ask for the Lord’s blessings, we must not forget that God created us equal.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023650068

The President's statement was aspirational, and this is too big and complex a country for Putin's misinterpretation.

From the President's speech:

Franklin Roosevelt once said, “Our national determination to keep free of foreign wars and foreign entanglements cannot prevent us from feeling deep concern when ideals and principles that we have cherished are challenged.” Our ideals and principles, as well as our national security, are at stake in Syria, along with our leadership of a world where we seek to ensure that the worst weapons will never be used.

America is not the world’s policeman. Terrible things happen across the globe, and it is beyond our means to right every wrong. But when, with modest effort and risk, we can stop children from being gassed to death, and thereby make our own children safer over the long run, I believe we should act. That’s what makes America different. That’s what makes us exceptional. With humility, but with resolve, let us never lose sight of that essential truth.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023642111

[Scurrilous]

14. K & R