CrossTalk Debate - Is American Exceptionalism a Myth?

[stevenleser]

Run time: 25:33 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4TuuDk2PNU   Posted on YouTube: January 24, 2011 By YouTube Member: RussiaToday Views on YouTube: 307   Posted on DU: January 24, 2011 By DU Member: stevenleser Views on DU: 734

 
On this edition of Peter Lavelle's CrossTalk, he asks his guests whether American exceptionalism is a self-serving myth.

Guests: David Merkel, Godfrey Hodgson, Peter Schuck

[AtheistCrusader]

1. Depends on 'exceptionalism'.

If you mean in the sense of gawd blessed land, yes, it's a myth. Just like god.

In the sense of a radical shift in government recognition of human rights, no, but it wasn't without it's problems, and in some ways, has since been eclipsed by other nations.

[provis99]

2. you mean human rights like rights to own slaves in the Constitution?

Because we are exceptional in putting slavery in our constitution.

[AtheistCrusader]

4. We also included the mechanisms for removing it.

But as I said, it was not without it's problems. Also, only white male property owners could vote at the time. Included the tools to undo that malarkey too.

[markpkessinger]

6. Playing with the definition is dishonest

Progressives need to come out and call out "American Exceptionalism" for the myth that it is. By fiddling with the definition as historically understood -- which is that America has a divinely-ordained mission to the world, and as such is free of the historically corrupting influences that have affected every other great power in human history -- we merely play into the Right's hands. We need to acknowledge honestly what is meant by the term, and then resoundingly refute it.

[AtheistCrusader]

7. Good point.

Will do.

[stevenleser]

3. The context that is usually being discussed is one where America is so "exceptional"

that it justifies any foreign policy and military decision we make because we are just so amazingly good.

[jwirr]

5. And that is how the palins of this world see it. Manifest destiny revisited.

[oldhippydude]

8. the fokkks folks have been using that line a lot lately..

apparently its more "god is on our side crap".. how can you loose when you your killing commies for jesus

[Kurovski]

9. The Dominionists, who love Sassy Crackpot sarah P...

http://www.care2.com/c2c/share/detail/344507

"Dominionists, on the other hand, seem very comfortable with throwing the first stone (and any further stones that may be required). Instead of freedom and justice for all, they seek conformity to their warped (and very selective) biblical interpretations. Some do so because they honestly believe that it is ordained by God and destiny; others do so for even more unsavory reasons. All this under a paranoid fantasy of persecution, and in the name of a special - even exclusive - relationship with the divine."