What do you understand by the phrase "American exceptionalism"? Is it a force for good?

"American exceptionalism" is a phrase we've been throwing around here for a few years to explain our position in the world. I see it as an almost humorous bad phrase, like 'white man's burden' or 'swarthy nations'.

Since the collapse of the USSR in the 1980s, the US has been the 'world's only remaining superpower'. One school of thought here is that we ought to take advantage of our unrivaled position to achieve more global control and hegemony. A 'think tank' called The Project for a New American Century (PNAC) worked for years to create policy for our govt. that included assuming control of the Middle East. Presidents GHW Bush and Bill Clinton wanted nothing to do with it, but GW Bush was taken in by the plan and developed a strategy to do that.

Bush's strategy was to plow through Iraq in a month or six weeks, then invade Syria, then Iran. And then the whole Middle East would be just one big happy American colony. This strategy was openly discussed in the run-up to the invasion of Iraq. It was one reason Bush so vociferously blamed Syria and Iran for our failure in Iraq. The idea was not oil for energy but for -power-. Whoever controls all the oil in the Middle East can basically run the world for the next century or so.

So we developed the phrase 'American exceptionalism' really as a euphemism. What it really means that the US should not consider itselft restrained by international laws and treaties, or even the moral/ethical considerations that a nation ought to be, because we are -exceptional-. God loves us more, we are the favorite of his children, and he wants us to run the world.

President Obama is a little more responsible and circumspect in foreign relations and international law. His opposition, the Republican Party, see their job as being to criticize -anything- he does, as harshly as possible, in as strong language as they can come up with. In the matter of Libya, they were just waiting to see what Obama would do, so they could howl in fake outrage that it was just exactly the wrong thing to do. The day before he decided to get involve in Libya, they were blasting him for 'dithering' and inaction, and the day after, for stumbling into another unwinnable war.

I think American Exceptionalism was valid for most of the 20th century.. The America today is in decline because we've gotten comfortable coasting on the accomplishments of our fathers and grandfathers / mothers and grandmothers.. We've now become a spoiled lot of whiney babies.. kind of like the Weimer republic before Hitler.. weak and vaccilating. About the only strong institution in America - is the military.. Draw what dangerous set of conclusions from that set of circumstances.. will America have a praetorian guard in the future? Probably not.. Will we have a Fascist coup like a Hitler.. very unlikely.. but We are in for a wake up call at some point. Maybe not.. who knows.

It's a tribal and nationalistic philosophy that gives rational people nothing but either massive amusement or dreadful irritation.

What makes me laugh even more is how many say "God bless America". It's the most pathetic thing I could ever hear. Even the BNP look like pussycat nationalists when compared to American exceptionalists.

American exceptionalism, as I understand it, is the view of some Americans--mostly on the right--who do not or cannot admit that America is ever wrong, ever misguided, ever worse at something than someone else or ever lower on the list than another country.

It irritates the hell out of these people that we are 37th in the world in health care, way down the list in education & college graduates, etc. In fact, half the time they won't even admit these facts are true.

Line 5 is a good one. What form of rhyme isn't getting used here? i don't somewhat even know what this pronounced, in spite of the undeniable fact that it particular substitute into exciting to envision. It gave the impression of music. i don't advise like Bach or something, purely some form of chord progression on an acoustic. a sprint ditty in case you will.

American exceptional ism is th can-do spirit that has allowed Americans to expect that they can achieve anything they put their mind to do. It is the innovation that still allows Americans to compete. Chinese industry recently pointed out that they might be picking up industry from the US, but they are envious of US innovation. It has been the environment of self-reliance and individualism that creates this spirit.

How can I have an opinion of it, since it doesn't exist? America shouldn't be put on a pedestal. The U.S. has committed so much evil since the time of its conception that it would be crazy to label us an exceptional nation.

It is the belief that Americans and American ideas are the best. Kind of like "my country right or wrong".

It's a veil that this country have hid behind all these years . If it wasn't for this country military might we wouldn't be sht . Because we all know this country fall way behind other nation around the world in education, infrastructure and a host of other thing .

It means we're arrogant and think we're better than the rest of the world. It's an excuse we tell ourselves so we can be the bully.

Think of your daily experience. When someone who is completely arrogant and thinks they are better than anyone else is around you, do you like that person, or not? Do you think that person is a force for good?