American exceptionalism

[sailaway21]

A most interesting article, if only for the third paragraph. This article amy even help Giu figure out why America is so different from Yurrup and I don't mean that with any sarcasm.
Understanding American Exceptionalism — The American, A Magazine of Ideas

[nonsailor]

Originally Posted by sailaway21

A most interesting article, if only for the third paragraph. This article amy even help Giu figure out why America is so different from Yurrup and I don't mean that with any sarcasm.

I think the reason for this is primarily due to the brainwashing you recieve as children by having to pledge allegiance every morning in school.

[erps]

I think the reason for this is primarily due to the brainwashing you recieve as children by having to pledge allegiance every morning in school.

WELL, there's our problem! The pledge of allegiance makes us happier than Europeans. So now that nonsailor has the solution identified, why aren't the Europeans reciting the pledge so they can be happy too?

[Boasun]

At least we have individual and diverse brains to wash. Europe is just really beginning to feel what diversity is like, with the influx of immgrants in the past half century. Something that the USA had been doing for more than two centuries.
We celebrate our diversities and cultural differences. For we are a mixture of of all of Europe, Asia, africa, and maybe a few from Mars. This diversity gives the individual an excellent chance of achieving their dreams.

[nonsailor]

I was talking about Pride not Happiness, argueing about National Pride is pointless and leads to wars, so I won't continue.

The trouble with Europe is that the beaureaucrats want it to become a federal superstate like the US, but most of the people do not want to be forced into such a state where we are ruled by an unelected commission, we are losing even the illusory control that democracy gave us over our national parliaments, we will have even less say in future.
Europe is 26 very different nations who do not want to be lumped together against their will, I think it will lead to civil war eventually as it did in yugoslavia before it broke apart.

[Plumper]

It is hard to put any credibility in an article calling America Exceptional when it is written by an American for a magazine called "The American". The only line I really take at face value is the last one: "For better or worse, America is the 800-pound gorilla in every room in the world."

[Giulietta]

Good Lord....you guys really need to read stuff that is not printed or based on US web sites, by single side one eyed, biased overpaid extremist plonkers, that just because they can put 30 words in a sentence are taken as the owners of the truth....

You guys really need (especially you SA), to diversify....read the BBC, and stuff from other Contries...you're too focused on your own belly buttons...

BOASUN, just so you know...Europe is at least at least 4000 years old than the US....the racial/ethnical/religious diversity you see now in the US, has hit Europe at least 100 times already....really...

[Plumper]

Originally Posted by Boasun

At least we have individual and diverse brains to wash. Europe is just really beginning to feel what diversity is like, with the influx of immgrants in the past half century. Something that the USA had been doing for more than two centuries.
We celebrate our diversities and cultural differences. For we are a mixture of of all of Europe, Asia, africa, and maybe a few from Mars. This diversity gives the individual an excellent chance of achieving their dreams.

This is a throw away statement. It was only couple centuries ago America was founded. Of course people have been moving there ever since. Many countries in Europe have huge immigrant populations. Europe itself it a model of diversity. The US doesn't celebrate diversity, it tries, as a nation, to be a melting pot - the opposite of diversity. It is the different ethnic groups themselves that try to cling to their past traditions and blend them with their new way of life. Many blue blood Americans complain when recent immigrants can't speak english very well or dress differently. Is that celebrating diversity?
Finally, how does diversity "give an individual an excellent chance of achieving their dreams?"

[camaraderie]

I think the word "exceptionalism" is off-putting to those from other countries who are equally proud of where they live and their own happy lives. I think it is an unfortunate choice of words.
Nevertheless...the article does point up some very real differences in the way Americans look at life and government and the rest of the world and if you can get by the initial distaste for the word exceptionalism, I think the article is worthwhile both for Americans and "furriners" to understand where we are coming from...which is not the same as saying you have to agree with us or that we are better. It is also important to understand that this is all a vast generalization about how Americans think and feel about things and is only valid in aggregate compared to the aggregates of other countries. A cursory review of the nightly election news will certainly reveal no single "American" viewpoint.

[Cruisingdad]

It is in fact, exceptionalism.

I don't want you to think of it in terms of military, or government. I don't want you to rationalize the immigrants or influence. I sure don't want you to think about it as land size and world dominance. No, here is how I want you to think about it:

Ice Hockey.

Yep. It is super power and exceptionalism. Don't you know our Canadian friends have every reason to be mad and furious with their southern neighbors??? While they freeze their butts off wilfully glancing at a frozen lake, they are forced to watch (on television) the cup sit in places it never freezes. But don't worry, my Candian friends, I have good news for you: It will soon be in Dallas. It does, on occasion, freeze in Dallas.

Now, to ease all cross-border tensions, repeat after me: Go STARS. Super Power and exceptionalism. GO STARS!

Don't you feel better now? Just say, "Thank you, CD."

You are welcome.

- CD