Exceptionalism

For the record and to be very clear….I’m as patriotic as the next guy. I’m deeply thankfull for having been born in the USA and not in some god forsaken place where there are no freedoms, no rule of law and constant threat of warlords and dictators.

That said, I’m increasingly uncomfortable with the increasing reference to American Exceptionalism. It’s not that we are not exceptional in many ways. However, I wonder how the drum beat of this phrase plays with citizens of other nations.

Let’s start with those countries similar to the USA (rule of law, freedoms, democratic systems, strong economies, etc).

I’m thinking that Canadiens, Scandanaviens, most Europeans, etc. must be thinking that they are “exceptional” and wonder why the USA seems to think it has cornered the market on exceptionalism.

Let’s move to the countries that are not within our “friend group”. I’m speaking here of Russia and China (for example). Though I do not support their systems of government, and their policies, you have to admit that those societies and cultures have survived tremendous upheavals. Just consider the wars, famines, revolutions and plagues from which they have survived and are still strong contenders in the boxing ring of nations. Their citizenry must consider themselves to be “exceptional”.

Let’s move to the Third World nations. The most downtrodden, disadvantaged and troubled. Their very existance would be considered among their citizenry as being exceptional. The nation of Haiti is a prime example. They were the first colonial nation to pull off a slave rebellion that shook off French control much to the consternation of the other slave controlled colonies. Haiti today (and throughout its history) contends with horiffic conditions but their origins as a nation could be described as exceptional.

And that brings me to an increasing disconnection to the olympics. Growing up I always watched the Wide World Of Sports on tv (showing my age) and always rooted for the USA (and still root for the red-white-blue). However, I’m now more inclined to watch olympic contests for the exceptional performances regardless of what country is being represented. Prime example of this would be any viewing of Usain Bolt as he blows past his running competitors. He is not a USA athelete but nobody can deny that his performance is exceptional. With all athletic contests (and contests in general), I’m increasingly queesy with that growing “high & mightly sentiment” in all conversations that “the other guy sucks”.

The counter weight to USA exceptionalism is the un-exceptional blemishes of both the past an present. We need look no farther than treatment of native Americans, slavery, Jim Crow, police brutality, un-exceptional schools, un-exceptional neighborhoods and I could go on and on. It pains me to do so and I regret unearthing this topic but it’s necessary to discuss exceptionalism with eyes wide open.

I hate to end this post on such a negative note…. so I won’t and here is why.

We have an opportunity to truly become exceptional if we buckle down and address the afore mentioned challenges. Then and only then will I feel comfortable shouting from the rooftop that WE ARE EXCEPTIONAL !