Exceptionalism
I just returned from a two week trip to Ireland and England and found that I was unable to post anything to this blog while there. However, I had the opportunity to conduct a totally unscientific survey regarding the idea of "American Exceptionalism" while there through spirited discussions with the "natives" and my fellow American travelers and reading the European press. The views of the two groups differed in two ways. First, the Europeans thought that the idea of "American Exceptionalism" was a dangerous fantasy while the Americans believed in it. Second, the Europeans could give pretty cogent reasons as to why they believed as they did; the Americans could not. And this was before the current US government shutdown.
Again, nothing scientific but interesting nonetheless
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"Informed dissent is the highest form of patriotism"
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-attributed to Thomas Jefferson |
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Our "belief" in American exceptionialism has been planted..
ReplyDeletehttp://centralohioservices.wordpress.com/2013/10/08/edward-bernays-lives-on-today/
Not to mention that the Europeans are just smarter than us!
We are exceptional at lying to ourselves, I find that Europeans are more apt to take a broader and while seemingly less optimistic view, a generally more reliable and honest assessment. One of many reasons that I married one!
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