...Analysis of the Term “American Exceptionalism” in the Current U.S. Culture A Reflections Paper Analysis of the Term “American Exceptionalism” in the Current U.S. Culture American Exceptionalism refers to the idea that the United States is significantly different from other countries. The concept has origins in the writings of French scholar Alexis de Toqueville who made observations during his visit to America in the nineteenth century (Mansfield, 2011). Also, Puritan John Winthrop's 1630 sermon "A Model of Christian Charity" led to the widespread belief in American folklore that the United States of America is God's country because it would become a "city upon a hill", watched by the world (John Winthrop: "A Modell of Christian Charity", 2007). Although the term does not necessarily imply superiority, many political leaders and writers have coined its use in that sense. Naturally, others hold the position that America is not really exceptional at all. In fact, after taking a cursory glance at some of the issues that our leaders are charged to correct, we can easily peel off the loftier label and replace it with a more humbling phrase. To begin, America’s hunger issue is a strong reason to reduce our loftier standing. It is not impressive that in a country without drought or famine and with enough food and money to feed the world twice over 1-in-8 of our own people struggle to put food on its table (Berg, 2009). Also, in 2010, 4.8 percent of all U.S. households...
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...American Exceptionalism is a belief that America is exceptional and does not conform to the norm. It is the uniqueness of our country which sets us apart from all of the rest. American Exceptionalism can be traced back to the 1830s when Alexis de Tocqueville who was the first to use the term “exceptional” to describe the United States and the American people in his class work Democracy in America. However, the idea of America as an exceptional entity can be traced back to the earliest colonial times. The idea American Exceptionalism has changed over the decades and many Americans in recent years do not believe in it. In the opinion editorial, “Decline of American Exceptionalism,” written by Charles M. Blow, he believes that Americans should realize what our nation has come to and to restore what was once the greatest country in the world. He also believes that people have fallen into deep pessimism about our country because the country is in “the start of a longer-term decline where the U.S. is no longer the leading country in the world.” (Blow) Even though America is known for opportunities arising and our hope for humanity, I believe that the belief of American Exceptionalism has changed because Americans have forgotten what it means and what it looks like. Therefore, American Exceptionalism will be gone unless, America as a whole takes the initiative to change the country back to its mighty state. For example, a country who once had everything the other countries dreamt...
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...American Exceptionalism The idea of being superior or better than other nations is an interesting thought. It’s a thought that needs to be explored in a respectful way since many may feel it’s arrogant to call ourselves superior over others, but if it’s done the right way, I feel that there are many arguments that favor American exceptionalism. I found three arguments which I feel that support the belief of American exceptionalism. The first argument is freedoms. What does it mean to be free based on an immigrants view? I saw this quote by Hector St. John de Crevecoeur in which he said “The American is a new man, who acts upon new principles; he must therefore entertain new ideas and form new opinions. Here individuals of all nations are melted into a new race of men, whose labors and posterity will one day cause great changes in the world” (Brotter 1). I feel this quote describes one’s belief of what it means to be free, and how much it means to those that come to this country to help fight to keep those rights for all Americans. With so many immigrants from every corner of the world interested in becoming an American citizen. The only sensible conclusion would be that this country must be far superior to any other country in the world. My second argument is the nature of our government along with the political structure that works within it. To explore this argument, I begin with the effects of the American Revolution and what we were fighting for as well as the changes...
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...The history text book titled A History of the United States writes “Americans--makers of something out of nothing--have delivered a new way of life to far corners of the world” (pg 284) This quote is referring to the Americas as the exceptional progresors and producers creating the idea of American exceptionalism; or in other world the idea that America is the best. Because text books deliver this idea to students and disallow them to question this material they grow up wanting to continue this ideology. One can only be socially best either by developing something, having massive power, or by owning massive amounts of money. This is where politics and economy come into play. As a nation we want to progress to the point where we are the best at everything. “Politically, we can hope other nations will put in place our forms of democracy and respect for civil liberties. Economically, we can only hope other nations will never achieve...
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...Like you, no matter where I travel abroad there is a myriad of reasons to be thankful to be an American. Some individuals I encountered were fascinated by my status as an American. Others verbally attacked my citizenship. When I was in Egypt, I was assigned an armed guard who followed me everywhere. Such occurrences of American hate may reflect misconceptions of American exceptionalism. For example, those who disprove of American exceptionalism associate it with jingoism or chauvinism (Murray 2013). America is a beacon for the entire world. The beacon draws some toward it and other to destroy it. Religion, or more accurately faith, does play a substantial part in the propulsion of American exceptionalism. America is a grand experiment in...
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...Explain Manifest Destiny and American exceptionalism. John Sullivan brought about manifest destiny, in his article; he claimed that the American manifest destiny was to spread over to free developments after allotting the continents providence. The interpolations made many people think that it was rightful for Americans to expand its territories (Barnes & Bowles, 2014). On the other hand, the American exceptionalism mainly referred to the uniqueness of the US. This was reflecting on the personal liberty and the democratic ideals of the country (Barnes & Bowles, 2014). The exceptionalism helped the Americans understand there is no other nation in the world where Americans can fulfill their dream. How were these ideas applied to U.S. foreign...
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...American exceptionalism alludes to the uncommon character of the Assembled States as an interestingly free country in light of vote based beliefs and individual freedom. Be that as it may, regularly the political contrasts are said to be supported by material contrasts realized by the riches/assets of the Assembled States, some of the time seen as an immediate result of the flexibility of the American individuals, however by others as the result of the legacy of the North American mainland's bottomless assets. This is the boondocks rendition of the hypothesis, and this and the thoughts of social versatility and migrant absorption are firmly fixing to this arrangement of thoughts of American material success. Numerous parts of American history...
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...the largest navy including, its twelve aircraft carriers and the second largest stockpile of nuclear warheads. Its economy produces almost a quarter of the world's wealth. Citizens of the United States are among the most hard-working, affluent, and generous in the world. There is no debating the significance the United States has played on the global stage and as an international superpower. Almost every single American citizen believes that the United States is an exceptional power. The truth is, it...
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...the free and home of the brave. In 2009, Barack Obama stated “I believe in American Exceptionalism, just as I suspect the Brits believe in British exceptionalism, and the Greeks believe in Greek exceptionalism” (News Conference 2009). American Exceptionalism is an Umbrella housing everything the led to the freedom and uniqueness of national acceptance. The term “exceptionalism” stems from being exceptional and at a high level of respect, or success. Exceptionalism is our belief in the exceptional country we live in, that is America. America is seen by many around the world as the land of opportunities. There are a vast number of reasons that is became so. Every country should have “exceptionalism” by which you acknowledge and love your country for. American Exceptionalism influenced US domestic and international policies as well as US democracy via the belief that what “America does is right.” That belief is stemmed from the notion of because it is our country anything we do is right or justified. When reading into Obama’s speech on our American exceptionalism we must attain and realize his stance on supporting his country no matter what. The term stems into policies, and relations among nations. Under the umbrella of the term...
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...The End of American Exceptionalism? The Limits of Power is a primary reading that was published in 2008 before the results of the presidential election was known. It was written by Andrew Bacevich who is a retired U.S. Army colonel and professor of history and international relations at Boston University. In the book Bacevich argues that the United States has been in a unique position since its inception. It has a large amount of inherent advantages, such as an abundance of natural resources and a lack of nearby external threats. Despite these advantages, he sees the United States as having embarked on a disastrous path of rampant consumption and attempted empire building that is corrupting and bankrupting the country, all while using American exceptionalism as a justification. When asked what American exceptionalism means in an interview shortly after his book was published Bacevich answered, “Well, this is not an idea that’s original with me. It’s clear that from the founding of the Anglo-American colonies, from the time that John Winthrop made his famous sermon and declared that “we shall be as a city upon a hill” a light to the world it’s clear that, from the outset, there has been a strong sense among Americans that we are a special people with a providential mission. In the twentieth century, probably going back to roughly the time of Woodrow Wilson, certainly since the end of the Cold War, this concept of a providential mission, a responsibility to the world, has...
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...American Exceptionalism by James Q. Wilson is written from the viewpoint that anything America, at least the majority, has benefited the rest of the world. Throughout the piece, Wilson wil pick out an America routine and compare it to those of Europe, among others, and construct reasons in which make America seem like the superior country. Moreso, if America has done, or is still doing, something that is not like my the public, Wilson will still demonstrate how much worse conditions and circumstance could be in another country. Wilson makes sure to highlight the pride Americans hold. He uses a study done by Pew Research Center stating “While 71 percent of Americans say they are "very proud" to be in America, only 38 percent of the French...
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...In response to the act of violence done towards Trayvon Martin, President Obama explains, “When Trayvon Martin was first shot I said that this could have been my son. Another way of saying that is Trayvon Martin could have been me 35 years ago… I think it’s important to recognize that the African American community is looking at this issue through a set of experiences and a history that doesn’t go away”. The history of the African American community in the United States that President Obama is mentioning is the concept of the construction of whiteness and how that “whiteness” has been used repeatedly against the Black community. Trayvon Martin is not the first nor the last victim of this history and stand your ground culture which Kelly Douglas explains in her book, Stand Your Ground: Black Bodies and the Justice of God. Then the question comes to us when we observe these acts of violence, who or what is responsible for the acts of violence in the world like the murder of Trayvon Martin? Do we blame the murderer, George Zimmerman, who felt that Trayvon Martin was a...
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...development of American expansionism, placing Melville’s novella in contemporary political and historical context. More specifically, the paper deals with the concept of Manifest Destiny developed in Benito Cereno, which Emery defines as “the mind-set of those many Americans who fancied themselves citizens of an elect nation, destined by Providence to govern the globe” (49). In his argument, Emery employs an interesting analogy: San Dominick is a symbol of the Spanish empire. Its “disorderliness” stands for the “anarchy” found by American expansionists in Latin America, while this confusion is attributed to Cereno’s incapability as leader and his weak style of command. Delano’s plot to take control of Cereno’s vessel anticipates American interventionism in the Caribbean, it is argued. However, Manifest Destiny is portrayed in an adverse fashion, considering the fact that the invasion of San Dominick is not motivated by the desire to change the condition of the oppressed, but by mere desire for material gain. The term exceptionalism is not explicitly mentioned, but Emery is clearly hinting at it being the justification for territorial expansion. Manifest Destiny is, as claimed by Emery, a mere rhetorical camouflage for a largely political enterprise (54). Another interesting political instance, according to the author, is when Delano attempts to buy Babo. Emery calls this attempt “embarrassing”, clearly positioning himself as opposing the doctrine of American exceptionalism. This attempted...
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...compounded with the decidedly American rhetoric, establish a microcosmic model upon which Obama builds his credibility as a politician who appeals to all facets of the American lifestyle. In somewhat obscurely rendering an allusion to Ann Nixon Cooper, for instance, Obama reads, “…all that she's seen throughout her century in America - the heartache and the hope; the struggle and the progress; the times we were told that we can't, and the people who pressed on with that American creed: Yes we can” (Obama). As Obama draws upon a then-106-year old woman, he subtly subverts his own role as a future historical icon with the United States’ far-reaching history, and thusly emphasizes egalitarian custom to substantiate his audience’s mindset. His secondary emphasis upon “Yes we can” further fashions an antithesis between his naysayers’ negative outlook and the starkly revolutionary effect his presidency will...
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...address the theme of American exceptionalism and patriotism. In each of the titles, it is established that America is not as revered as it once was or possibly could be and that change needs to take place. Through dystopian tales, satirical speeches and exaggerated ideals the authors of these works of literature try to identify the issues faced in American society. Super Sad True Love story is a novel set in a futuristic world that portrays America as a dystopia. The conditions of the country are horrible; the dollar is extremely unstable, literacy has gone down the drain, privacy is virtually nonexistent and social networking has reached unthinkable extremes. Through these mediums Shteyngart reveals that patriotism is no longer about being proud but rather about surviving. Throughout the novel the state of the United States keeps deteriorating and none of the characters realize how bad it is. Lenny in the novel still holds love for America and hopes against all odds that it once again becomes a country to be admired as is seen in the lines below. “I took out my U.S. passport and held it in my hand, fingering its embossed golden eagle, still hoping it meant something. I remember how my parents would talk about the luck of their having left the Soviet Union for America. Oh God, I thought, let there still be such luck in this new world” (42). Lenny recognizes the need for positive change but he seems to be the only one to do so. He realizes that the ideals the American society holds high...
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