Of course, Barney could use the same example to support his own position. Things which have hideous aspects on close examination may still be extraordinarily beautiful in the aggregate.We are exceptional in one respect, in that this nation was founded on an ideology, rather than simply drawing lines on a map and saying of everything within “That’s us.”As to what that ideology is or was is something upon which there’s little agreement (nowadays, anyway; maybe always), but we were and are a Utopian experiment. To be “true” to our nation is to be “true” to its ideals, and that’s a FAR cry from “My country, right or wrong.” Again, though, the devil is in the details…
America was more exceptional when it was about “give me your huddled masses, yearning to break free”. Now that America is about “gimme mine, screw you, kick the furriners out”, it’s just like every other nationalistic country. Most unexceptional.
Point taken, Eldo,…to a point. I trust I know what you’re talking about, but that’s not what I’m talking about. “Manifest Destiny” is an ideology of a sort, but the sufferings of the indigenes caused by the expansion of the newcomers had little to do with, say, the ideals of democracy or liberty or pluralism or whatever. To the extent that the Iroquois Confederation provided a model for our Federal system, I don’t think they’d have had a problem with that.
lewisbower over 13 years ago
American exceptionalism always returns after periods of American mediocrity.
wynot over 13 years ago
c
fritzoid Premium Member over 13 years ago
Of course, Barney could use the same example to support his own position. Things which have hideous aspects on close examination may still be extraordinarily beautiful in the aggregate.We are exceptional in one respect, in that this nation was founded on an ideology, rather than simply drawing lines on a map and saying of everything within “That’s us.”As to what that ideology is or was is something upon which there’s little agreement (nowadays, anyway; maybe always), but we were and are a Utopian experiment. To be “true” to our nation is to be “true” to its ideals, and that’s a FAR cry from “My country, right or wrong.” Again, though, the devil is in the details…
Dirty Dragon over 13 years ago
America was more exceptional when it was about “give me your huddled masses, yearning to break free”. Now that America is about “gimme mine, screw you, kick the furriners out”, it’s just like every other nationalistic country. Most unexceptional.
CoolHandNoob over 13 years ago
When you’re truly “exceptional” you don’t feel a need to point it out.
fritzoid Premium Member over 13 years ago
Point taken, Eldo,…to a point. I trust I know what you’re talking about, but that’s not what I’m talking about. “Manifest Destiny” is an ideology of a sort, but the sufferings of the indigenes caused by the expansion of the newcomers had little to do with, say, the ideals of democracy or liberty or pluralism or whatever. To the extent that the Iroquois Confederation provided a model for our Federal system, I don’t think they’d have had a problem with that.