What really makes America exceptional?

WHAT IS SO EXCEPTIONAL ABOUT AMERICA?

When we decry the people who deny American exceptionalism, why do we decry them?  What are they denying and what are we defending?

According to Wikipedia, “American exceptionalism refers to the theory that the United States is qualitatively different from other nations. In this view, America's exceptionalism stems from its emergence from a revolution, becoming "the first new nation",[1] and developing a uniquely American ideology, based on liberty, egalitarianism, individualism, populism and laissez-faire.”

This is partly true but misses the central point--what makes America unique is her celebration of the common man.  There is no caste system, there is no hereditary aristocracy, there is no entrenched belief in underlings and overlords.  In America, in theory, any man, and now woman, can hope to be President someday.  John F. Kennedy proved someone other than Protestants could be President and Barack Obama proved someone other than a white could be President.

This, of course is a commonplace, and most people don’t give it a second thought.  Too bad.  It deserves very deep thought indeed.  

Do you really want to go back to a world where heredity decides your opportunities and your children’s opportunities in life?  If we go back to the Old World way of doing things, that is what will happen, over time.  Perhaps we will learn to be sensitive and tolerant of the Hindu caste system with its Brahmins and Untouchables.  Maybe we will evolve Lords, Dukes and Counts.  Maybe even a King.  

If you are one of the unlucky ones, maybe you’ll get to stand on the curb, knuckle your forehead and give a rousing cheer for the Count of New Jersey as his limo goes roaring by. 

But, you say it can’t happen here.  This is America.  And that is correct and that is what makes America exceptional.  No matter who your parents are, you have the right to go as far as your talents, drive and luck can take you.  There is no law or custom to prevent that, and we have been steadily eliminating the barriers that remain as the election of Obama proved.  (Reverse discrimination is a festering problem, of course, and must be dealt with and it’s corrosive poison removed from society.)  

And this is what the opponents of American exceptionalism are really after--a return to the rule and privilege of power and prestige for the elite and their offspring.  They want to crush the common man just as he has been crushed throughout history in every nation in the world. For them American exceptionalism is a curse, for the rest of us it is a blessing from God.

Have a happy Fourth of July.

rng