American exceptionalism is a lie.

[LLStarks]

Conservatives are so quick to bash other countries.

From slamming foreign health care systems to calling socially liberal societies uncivilized cesspools, they simply refuse to acknowledge the intrinsic benefits of not following an American model of doing things.

While we do some things better than other developed nations, it doesn't give us carte blanche to ignorantly thump our chests as the greatest country on Earth and ignore our faults.

[Vidar]

1. Yes, it certainly is.

[patrice]

2. The exception in exceptionalism is based on the assumption that we are special to God above

all other nations. And, therefore, have "Christian" religious responsibilities to see that the rest of the world "accept" Jesus. It is this responsibility that goes hand in hand with the Imperialist objectives of the Economic Royalists, who President Franklin D Roosevelt fought for us, and who, through the actions of The Family et al, are currently trying to prevent genuine Health Care reform in the United States of America.

American Exceptionalism is BLASPHEMY.

[patrice]

4. P.S. Not only is it Blasphemy, it goes hand in hand with the RACIST Christian Identity movement.

[Dave From Canada]

3. I'd have to disagree. Becoming a super-power in a matter of 200 years is pretty impressive.

However, I do agree with the body of what you're saying about thumping their chest and ignoring faults.

[Juche]

8. Don't tell the Chinese

They are set to become a superpower in 40 years (1978-2018), by then their economy will be bigger than ours in PPP and nearly as large in USD. In fact they already are a major power and we are economically dependent on them since they own nearly a trillion of our debt.

[Dave From Canada]

17. I could be wrong, but China's been around for slightly longer than 1978.

[Juche]

18. I could be wrong, but America has been around for slightly longer than 200 years

The pilgrims were here for 400 years, and the Indians for far longer than that.

[Dave From Canada]

19. Yeah, almost as long as the 5000 years Chinese civilization dates back to.

[MrScorpio]

5. Absolutely correct

The curse of our empire

[crazy_vanilla]

6. if more people would travel, they would know that other countries are pretty cool

There is definitely much we can learn from them.

[LLStarks]

7. Obama has said he believes in American Exceptionalism, however...

I don't think he meant the traditional arrogant definition which declares that we are the greatest nation. Rather, I think he believes that we should to strive to be as such.

[MrScorpio]

10. Unfortunately, that belief is a prerequisite to running the franchise nt

[Posteritatis]

11. I liked his definition

He parsed exceptionalism as "this country is distinct because of A, B and C," and emphasized that there isn't a country on the planet which can't say something similar. That's utterly true and utterly inoffensive.

I'm glad he rejects the traditional exceptionalism, which all but says Americans are genetically superior to others and gets people to believe things like "the United States is the only free country on Earth."

[Zix]

9. Speaking on behalf of the populace of a country that isn't America...

(although I'm hardly mandated to do so) I welcome this insight.

[vadawg]

12. sorry no one from edinburgh is ever allowed to speak on behalf of the nation

:) i got to say i find america quite exceptional, some people dont realise what a great place the US is, great people, great places....

[Zix]

14. Bah! For all you know I'm Sean Connery. HE seems to think he can.

I have never met an American I didn't like, for sure, a generous, expansive and broad-minded lot, the ones I've met. I just wish it's politics was a true expression of the character of its people.

[vadawg]

15. lol sean is allowedto think that just because hes bond

but hes the only dude with any link to edinbug thats allowed to think that, apart from the mad vlad at tynecastle of course..

[steelmania75]

13. We just suck, and we don't want our people to see that other countries are doing better than us

in terms of healthcare, energy, life expectancy, education, economically, etc.

Brazil, China, India, and Russia are vastly improving, and probably will surpass the US by the end of this century.

[Zix]

16. That would be very sad. Really, it shouldn't come to that.

The nation that pioneered gay rights and landed on the moon?

Come on.

[KT2000]

20. Katrina and health care

let them drown - that is america too.