Posted by
KsReaganite on Monday, January 31, 2011 3:22:34 PM
As a college lecturer of the social sciences, I often begin
my semester by asking students their views on the concept of American
exceptionalism? The idea that the United States holds, and must continue to
hold, a uniquely pioneering and exemplary role for human societies is something
that I hold dear and can backup with anecdotal and statistical evidence. This
belief in the uniqueness of America’s mission is based neither on arrogance nor
intransigence. Rather it anchors in deeply held humility which has found its
voice through the words of the great exceptionalists throughout history: John
Winthrop, Woodrow Wilson, John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan, and George W. Bush. The
liberal-left has never been comfortable with this exceptionalism thing,
dismissing it as merely another expression of jingoism.
Now, the self-styled mavens of modern day conservatism have
joined the attack, in deeds if not words, on American exceptionalism. Many
conservatives have simply succumbed to the very un-American and alien
subterfuge that “ends justify the means” (making the ghosts of Nazis,
Communists, and assorted petty tyrants scream with glee ‘we told you so’). Were
the nascent democratization movements of the pre-1990 Eastern Europe looking to
us today, will they see a robust defense of the values they wanted their own
societies to reflect? The rule of law,
freedom from snooping by the government or its private sector buddies, substantive
independence of courts whose robust writ runs large, protection of basic human
dignity at home and abroad...these are the ideals we exemplified, preached with
credibility, and championed with unapologetic gusto.
We still do the championing part.