The Irony of American Exceptionalism
Something I’ve noticed this year about the irony of American Exceptionalism: Those who trumpet it most have it least.
American exceptionalism is about being a nation rooted not in shared backgrounds but in shared values: freedom, democracy, the rule of law, equality for all. We thrive because we recognize our diversity as a strength, and respect to each other as an imperative.
It is ironic that many who proclaim American Exceptionalism as their badge of honor tend to use it to foment divisions.
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Andrew Bacevich recently published a fantastic book on this subject titled, The Limits of Power: The End of American Exceptionalism.
His interview with Bill Moyers is astounding.
http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/08152008/profile.html
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