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Is America exceptional? ...asks an article on Foxnews.com.
"I believe in American exceptionalism, just as I suspect that the Brits believe in British exceptionalism and the Greeks believe in Greek exceptionalism" intones our President Barack Hussein Obama, who has three Muslim names but is not a Muslim.
Trying to appear as fair and impartial as possible, he continues that he is, "enormously proud of my country and its role and history in the world." Mr. Obama went on to say that the U.S. is "not always going to be right."
He has a point. The US is not always going to be right. But it is going to try it's best, isn't it? And that's what exceptionalism is all about, isn't it?
I'm a little disappointed that our Kow-tow-er in Chief hasn't enough of a background to give a good account of American history to the world, and remind the world, and ourselves, of how exceptional a place America really is.
This is not to say that America is arrogantly superior and egotistical about her achievements; not in the slightest. But the whole story is not getting told, and it's one that needs to be heard.
From the book, Making of America, p. 8:
Even before the American commonwealth of freedom had been established, people of all classes and all nationalities were beginning to anticipate great possibiliites in the future development of something new and exciting in America. America seemed to breathe a spirit of hope into the minds of the restless that, before long, one out of every four Englishmen was living in America. There was even mention in some circles that the capital of the British Empire should be moved to America.
One in four! That's an interesting factoid. That must have meant something, especially considering the long voyage and sacrifices one would have to make to journey to American soil.
From the same book, p. 9:
As the leaders of other countries studied the principles of the United States Constititution there was widespread acclaim for this upward leap in good government and sound economics.
The great leader in Parliament, William Pitt, exclaimed, "It will be the wonder and admiration of all future generations, and the model of all future constitutions."
The prime minister of England, William E. Gladstone, later said: "It is the greatest piece of work ever struck off at a given time by the brain and purpose of man."
The first prime minister of Canada, Sir John A. Macdonald, said, "I think and believe that it is one of the most perfect organizations that ever governed a free people."
It is also noteworthy that in the first century after America came to be, it constituted 6 percent of the world's population and 6 percent of the world's land area, yet it contributed more than 50 percent of the world's goods and services. If this isn't exceptional, I'll eat my hat.
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