I think part of the problem with the current debate about "American Exceptionalism" is

[Electric Monk]

people are using (or reading in their heads) different definitions of the word "exceptionalism".

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/exceptional

ex·cep·tion·al
[ik-sep-shuh-nl] Show IPA
adjective
1.
forming an exception or rare instance; unusual; extraordinary: The warm weather was exceptional for January.
2.
unusually excellent; superior: an exceptional violinist.
3.
Education .
a.
being intellectually gifted.
b.
being physically or especially mentally handicapped to an extent that special schooling is required.

The problem with American Exceptionalism isn't that America is just too amazingly awesome (definition number 2) but that it's the belief that rules which are perfectly good for other countries don't and shouldn't apply to America (definition number 1). See: Geneva Conventions, the Chemical Weapons Convention of 1992, Kyoto accord, etc.

[applegrove]

1. Here is Wikipedia on the history of the term:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_exceptionalism

[Cha]

6. Thank you, applegrove~

American exceptionalism is the theory that the United States is "qualitatively different" from other nations.[2] In this view, America's exceptionalism stems from its emergence from a revolution, becoming what political scientist Seymour Martin Lipset called "the first new nation"[3] and developing a uniquely American ideology, "Americanism", based on liberty, egalitarianism, individualism, republicanism, populism and laissez-faire.[4] This ideology itself is often referred to as "American exceptionalism."[4]

Although the term does not necessarily imply superiority, many neoconservative and American conservative writers have promoted its use in that sense.[4][5] To them, the United States is like the biblical shining "City upon a Hill", and exempt from historical forces that have affected other countries.[6]

[Electric Monk]

8. Right. That fits definition #1 from my OP.

I think it's hilarious how the BOGers (3 so far) are trying to play gotcha using a wikipedia link that agrees with me.

[bhikkhu]

11. I think it is fundamentally linked to a notion that people in general are unworthy, dishonest,

lazy, selfish, violent, stupid, etc. You can find that as a backdrop to most GOP ideas of how to govern. Perhaps it stems from Judeo-christian ideas about the "fallen" nature of humanity, or perhaps it goes back further to an inherent human distrust for others who are not of "our" group.

In any case, it tends to separate the wheat from the chaff, so to speak, and to say that most of humanity is chaff, while one's own group is good or exceptional.

The antidote is to realize that all people everywhere are essentially the same, we share the same basic human blueprint, the same arrangements of mind and heart, the same characteristic dispositions, Anywhere you go in the world, you will find that people are generally hard-working, honest, care for their families above all, want to live in good communities, and want to live peaceful lives with dignity and respect.

I give up on trying to convince republicans on that, but there are many here who still often talk about people in general (which includes people who work for corporations, public servants, hispanics, chinese, bankers, government workers, politicians, etc) as inherently dishonest, selfish, stupid, unworthy. We should know better.

[Half-Century Man]

14. I have to complain about one part of your post.

The word "Judeo-Christian" should not have been used.
As far as I know, Christians are the only ones using the concept of original sin and the desperate need for forgiveness. I am basing that on attending Synagogue for over fifty years and never once hearing about any "fall from grace" which condemned humanity in general and required any sort of divine "get outta jail free" card from the possibly bipolar divine being which condemned us in the first place.
Judaism has no traditions like that. I have heard it argued that that aspect of Judeo-Christianity is Hellenistic. The influence of Hellenism would explain the idea that the Lord of the Universe might somehow become a pedophile or an adulterer (acting like Zeus, seducing an early teen girl of some one else's wife. take your pick) after 4000 years of not doing things that are common to so many different mythologies.

[bhikkhu]

19. Good point - I was careless there

I really meant to lump Islam and Christianity together there in their conception of the basic human state.

In Judaism there is definitely the "us versus them" mentality, as the chosen people versus all the rest, but I suppose that doesn't inherently require any judgement of character about the rest.

[DevonRex]

7. Knowing what it really means makes all the difference.

Putin is not expected to know our history. He does, though, and he's counting on the ignorance of those inclined to think the worst of Obama.

[quinnox]

2. Good distinction

[Uncle Joe]

3. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, Electric Monk.

[Tx4obama]

4. See the definition/history in Comment #1

[Pretzel_Warrior]

5. No, this person would like to make up their own definition with which to indict the U.S.

[Electric Monk]

13. Quoting a dictionary is making up my own definition? Well, aren't you exceptional. nt

[bobduca]

9. Especially Section 6 - Criticism

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_exceptionalism#Criticism

The theory of American exceptionalism has been criticized, particularly after the start of the 21st century, on a variety of grounds from charges of moral flawness and existence of double standards to American declination of power.

...

Moral flawness

Double standards

Pre-emptive declinism

[truebluegreen]

10. K&R.

[gtar100]

12. We've gone from an expression of #1 to #3a. All due to the insanity of conservatives.

Special schooling is now required.

[Half-Century Man]

15. I see the phrase American Exceptionalism as ad copy

It sound wonderful, say nothing, rolls off the tongue and influences buy in. It is bad policy to believe in your own advertisements, it blinds you to perceiving needed changes.

[tblue]

16. Outsiders don't see the US the way Americans do?

Quelle surprise.

Those words might make us feel all pumped up and patriotic, but it's rubbing people the wrong way, and that frightens me. I think that phrase would be better left unsaid. Let our actions tell of our exceptional greatness.

What Putin is saying is, from an outsider's perspective, it sounds like hubris or pride, and pride goeth before a fall. It matters how other people see you, even if you think they have it wrong. Putin's not alone in this thinking, not by a long shot. To the rest of the world, it could sound particularly antagonistic, possibly terrifying, coming from a powerful man possibly on the brink of war. How would we perceive those words out of Putins's mouth?

[Half-Century Man]

17. If the only way people know you are exceptional if because you tell them

over and over, you are not exceptional.

Be exceptional by deed, not by propaganda.

[Electric Monk]

18. Kicking this, because I see DUers still using the wrong definition, and it's leading to confusion.nt