American Exceptionalism > Deputy under-secretary/national security McDonough gave a VERY interestin

[patrice]

g answer to a question about American Exceptionalism in a live feed from a White House briefing room this morning, in the presence of other national security experts from specialized media who formed a press-conference-style panel with questions for him and with questions also input from FaceBook users.

The interesting thing about McDonough's answer regarding American Exceptionalism was that he didn't run from, nor did he waffle on this "Tea Party" talking point, but, instead he took it away from the Tea Party and made it "his" own, by referring to unique opportunities for personal growth & development that America has manifested historically, a trait that Foreign Policy/National Security remains committed to, and also by referring to the special sacrifices Americans have made on behalf of America throughout its history.

Though I am glad to hear about such serious commitment to opportunities for persons to grow and develop, not only is it pretty obvious that there have been some mistake(s) about exactly what those opportunities are for MOST Americans and, hence, what it was that some Americans have suffered and died for, but there are also significant & essential questions about WHY these EXPENSIVE investments in "opportunities" are, to all intents and purposes, ALWAYS military incursions in foreign lands, a.k.a. Proxy Wars.

That said, I was impressed anyway by the manner in which McDonough owned the answer to this question and also by the otherwise detailed level of information that he offered on a wide variety of rather challenging questions, from the SMEs on hand and from the FaceBook participants.

It was a real pleasure listening to this discussion.

[applegrove]

1. Yes. Exceptionalism should be about the exceptional things each American does

to make the country better, stronger, fairer.