Tonight I started to write an essay about exceptionalism, “the perception that a country, society, institution, movement, or time period is “exceptional” (i.e., unusual or extraordinary) in some way and thus does not need to conform to normal rules or general principles.” This seems to be the new philosophy of what we call “the greatest country in the world.”
It seems to explain how we can send killer drones into other countries but would not tolerate another country sending one into the U.S.A. It explains what our presidents calls ‘pre-emptive war’ or ‘war of necessity’ whereas other countries are restricted only to wars of self defense. This philosophy also helps explain why the rich and powerful can break laws with punishment but the poor and outcast cannot. In a country of exceptionalism there are individuals and institutions that are exceptional.
This growing USA philosopher explains why as a country we can take more from the poor and middle class and give it to the wealthy. Money buys exceptionalism. Paul Ryan one of our local congressmen believes in American exceptionalism. He said Ryan spoke at length about American exceptionalism as it relates to America’s role in the world. “America is an idea,” he said. “And it was the first nation founded as such. The idea is rather simple. Our rights come to us from God and nature. They occur naturally, before government.”
There will be many more examples of ‘exceptionalism’ in the essay but for now I am trying to discover the opposite ‘ism’ of exceptionalism. Any thoughts of what is the opposite ism?
For anyone who read last night’s posting on the Diary of the Worm I apologize for forgetting the picture and an obvious mistake. I was extremely tired and I am not exceptional or believer in exceptionalism.
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