There are several days Americans celebrate communally that are not religious in nature, and of course, there are days of Thanksgiving, recognition of mothers and fathers, and important days set aside to recognize the sacrifice our brave military. There is only one day to celebrate our nation and it has turned into a time to simulate war with outrageous firework displays as well as a time to reflect on the great nation America became. From sea to shining sea, in every community in the nation, houses are regaled in red, white, and blue with an abundance of flag waving to show the pride Americans have for the greatest nation in the world. However, a brief perusal of the state of the nation reveals that America is exceptional, but only for having the greatest military in the world; otherwise, there really is nothing exceptionally good about this country.
Republicans have condemned President Obama for not trumpeting American exceptionalism; but the truth is, American exceptionalism is a cause for shame and embarrassment to any decent human being who cares about freedom and equality. On this Independence Day, instead of swilling cheap American beer and fouling the air with sulfur-dioxide fumes, it is worth mourning the deplorable conditions conservatives have imposed on the majority of the population. There are myriad examples of Republican policies that target women, gays, and the poor with scripturally-based discrimination that belies the fact that Americans enjoy unparalleled equality. There is no equality in America for all citizens, and although social conservatives are proud of their record of discrimination and subjugation of non-believers, religious-inspired discrimination is only the tip of the iceberg.
In America, there are a minimum of 8 times as many people in prison than the closest country and it is exceptional that the richest country in world incarcerates more of its citizens than the next five countries combined. It is difficult to understand how any American can be proud that such large segments of the population are convicts. What an exceptional country.
When Bill Clinton left office, there was a budget surplus that was squandered on tax cuts for the wealthy and two unnecessary wars, but Republicans have always preferred to spend money on bombs and bullets than programs to educate and feed the poor. America is exceptional in that we spend more on military programs than the next 25 industrial countries combined. In budget talks, Republicans refuse to reduce military spending when the country is drowning in debt and a huge percentage of the population is losing their homes and starving. What an exceptional country.
The deplorable conditions in America have put undue stress on the poor, and a failed war on drugs has resulted in America have the highest murder rate than the next five countries in the world combined. Republicans refuse to consider any type of reasonable gun control and they have worked a violent, extremist segment of the population into frenzy that any gun control is tantamount to eliminating the 2nd Amendment. In fact, some of the violent conservative candidates have advocated insurrection and violence against the government in a ploy to garner voter support. Michele Bachmann, a presidential candidate, advocates and encourages Minnesotans to be “armed and dangerous” to reject federal laws that do not benefit the oil industry as well as a lie that President Obama is overtaxing the public. America has more gun violence than every other country in the world that is not involved in an active war. It is an exceptional statistic that conservatives are proud of, but it is a source of shame for decent Americans.
It is more shameful and exceptional that in America, nearly 20% of children live in poverty and are hungry every day of their lives. America is the richest country in the world and gives taxpayer dollars to a filthy rich oil industry, but cannot afford to care for our children. For the cost of one day of war in Iraq, the program (WIC) to feed children and poor mothers could be funded for an entire year. However, Republicans slashed funding to WIC to pay for tax cuts for corporations and the wealthy. What an exceptional country Republicans have created. Are you proud yet?
America is so exceptional, that nearly 9% of the population is homeless and a large percentage are war veterans. It is how a grateful nation run by conservatives shows their support for our brave soldiers who are killing Arabs to ensure Dick Cheney and his cohorts in the oil industry maintain their obscene profits. Apparently, in conservative ideology, it is exceptional to abuse veterans as soon as they return from the theatre of war. If abusing war veterans makes conservatives proud and feel exceptional, then decent Americans should feel abject shame.
Republicans claim to believe in the sanctity of life and use the phrase to restrict a woman’s right to choose their own reproductive health, but in defending the alleged sanctity of life, they are also defunding programs that keep that singing, talking, laughing fetus healthy. The infant mortality rate in America is exceptional in that it is higher than every developed country in the world. For any human being to exude pride for enacting legislation calling a zygote a person with a conscience, feelings, mathematical skills, and the ability to praise god and then refuse to care for that zy-person is beyond comprehension and a cause for shame for decent human beings. Are you still proud of America and its exceptional disregard for infants, or prideful for producing dead babies in the richest country in the world? If you are proud of that statistic, then you must be a conservative Christian and a Republican.
The list of reasons to be ashamed of America goes on indefinitely and is incredibly depressing for reasonable, decent human beings. When Republicans finish transforming America into a third-rate, backward country where science and reason are replaced with superstition and ancient mythology, most of these depressing statistics will make sense. Republicans enjoy the notion of America as a tribal society where the population is destitute and begging for scraps of food from wealthy industrialists, and is a cause of pride and a reason to boast about American exceptionalism.
On this Independence Day, instead of pride in an exceptional country, Americans should reflect on the humiliation and shame Republicans have brought about over the past 30 years. The reasons America is exceptional are shameful and do not represent what is supposed to be the greatest country on Earth. In fact, Americans have very little to be proud of, and if we are exceptional for treating such a huge segment of the population with contempt and utter disregard, then this country is indeed no better than Afghanistan. If you are proud of the condition of America and the way it treats 98% of its population, then you must be a conservative Christian and a Republican. This author is profoundly ashamed of America and wonders why Republicans and social conservatives are allowed to devastate what was once a decent country with impunity; especially when we could be so exceptional for all the right reasons.
Related posts:
- Debunking the Conservative Myth of American Exceptionalism
- American Exceptionalism Comes Under Conservative Assault
- American Exceptionalism Is Found In A Prosperous Middle Class
- The Republican True Believers And The Ayn Rand Path to American Destruction
- Going Rogue: The Bush Doctrine and American Exceptionalism
Another thoughtful essay
Thank you for stating so bravely what, sadly, so many of us think and feel.
Excellent..thoughtful and needs to passed around to every outlet and blog.
Thanks
Actually, what you call “scripturally-based discrimination” is just the exact opposite of what the Bible (scripture) teaches. It is more than clear from all the scriptures that we will ultimately be judged by God based on how we treat – and ignore – the “least of these”: whether or not we offer them food, clothing, housing, visitation when ill and in prison. Matthew 25:25-35. There is NOTHING scriptural about coddling the rich at the expense of the poor, or not being at peace with – or not loving – your neighbor, with love defined as “doing unto others just s you would have them do unto you (if you were in their situation).”
The righties may CLAIM to be religious/christian/godly, but they are none of these, and God and the public at large are not fooled. The only ones fooled by such pronouncements are those who are equally as apostate as the power-wielding (and power-seeking) righties.
Please be more careful in how you use labels. Words have meanings and connotations, and should not be misused (except in cases of satire and irony).
By the way, since the righties are so proud of America’s moral exceptionalism, you might toss in the data about our child abuse, pornography, teen pregnancy, abortion, STD, out-of-wedlock birth, and divorce rates, which I understand are among the highest in the world. As in the examples you cite, there is no component behind any of these figures that is worthy of any claim of moral exceptionalism, either. Moreover, reliable statistics show that these moral problems appear to be present among right-wing groups to almost the same extent as they are present within the rest of the American population.
And the child abuse, pornography, teen pregnancy, abortion, STD, out-of-wedlock birth, and divorce rates are highest in red states, aka, bible belt. Not sure if this is a result of repression and suppression or a general external locus of control worldview where people project their own inability to control themselves and/or exhibit discipline in their personal lives and therefor assume we all need an external authoritarian to keep us in line. Red State/Blue State examined this in great detail. Turns out blue states have a greater sense of personal responsibility and control (ironic given the smug moralizing of the far right so called “christians”). not sure if this is two different types of people or the result of beliefs. Too many variables to come to an easy conclusion, but it’s fascinating.
Quite so: we have the power to be exceptional in any direction, but the ways in which we once were exceptionally good are exactly what these exceptionalists deride and try to stamp out. An even break, a fair chance, a level playing field, a hand up when you were knocked down, the belief that any human being is worthy of a basic human respect until their actions prove otherwise, that it is each human being’s right to determine how to relate to their spouse or their God and every human being’s right to speak and vote their conscience- these beliefs made us exceptional, but most of all, our basic belief in fairness made us exceptional. Many years ago, as a direct- method ESOL instructor, I had a well-heeled student from I forget what country, who sneered at our “fetishistic preoccupation” with fairness. I never expected to hear such an open sneer from American mouths, but now I hear it every day, frequently from invaders who come here to gleichshalt us.
I’m a values voter. The American “fetishistic preoccupation” with fairness is one of my values. So is tolerance one of my values. Responsiveness to “the little people” -over 90% of us – in government is one of my values. Helping our hard-hit fellow citizens of the country and the planet is one of my values. Respecting the rights of the unborn not to be born into a world rendered hellish by human predaciousness is one of my values. I’ll vote these values as long as I can.
That’s a helluva to-do list …
Great, and disturbing, article. You are right on all counts. We have never been a Christian nation, as we have never not been at war. God is not blessing a nation that kills other people. He is not blessing a nation that does not provide basic health care for its citizens. He will not bless a nation that encourages wealth over compassion. Nor one that twists the words of His son to mean that greed and hate equal salvation as long as one professes to believe. And to the Palinbots: Sarah is no more Christian than that rock in your yard.
Excellent article and replies! Very appropriate for today!
I’m totally in tune with the sadness and outrage in this post. I think of these things every day and grieve my country. One correction I would make – the Republicans could not have done what they have without help from the Democrats. We have Dems today in Congress that cave in to all the demands. Part of our job is to see that we have a REAL opposition party to support in stopping the GOP led march to 3rd world status. Send the Blue Dogs packing!
Here,Here. Down with the Blue Dogs.
Very interesting….
If the Blue Dogs had supported President Obama in the beginning, there would not have been a chance for the midterms to be dominated by the Tea Party and the rest of the GOP. We could have accomplished most all our goals. They were the first road block that paved the way for the GOP. They were undercover GOP.
EXCELLENT!!!……. Thank You!!
It is America’s great misfortune to be saddled with ingrates the likes of you. It gives me comfort to know that you are a dying breed. America has done much for you and still you despise her.
E
In reality, you are the one who is a dying breed, filled with hate and ignorance to those who are unlike you, unwilling to help those in need. Keep your head buried in the sand.
A mature and realistic attitude is not “America… Love it or leave it.” If your view of your country wasn’t built upon a foundation of fantasy, you would have a different attitude: “America… Love it, cherish it for what it does right, and work to fix what it does wrong.” Blind allegiance is Scientology, not patriotism.
Wow, E – you are either blind or dumb (or both). In either case, the people who care about their fellow Americans aren’t “a dying breed.” In fact, more Americans identify themselves as Democratic or Independent than identify as Republican. And, if you’re not a millionaire, then you’re really stupid if you think that you’re somehow going to fare better than the rest.
Remember this in 10 years when your own family needs medical care you can’t afford. Or needs help from FEMA due one of the increasing disasters being brought on by (yes) man-made global warming. You think all those people in Alabama — mostly Christian no doubt who voted for Republicans — are turning away help from FEMA. (That one of the areas your precious Republicans want to defund, by the way.)
But, since you probably still believe in that invisible sky-daddy that has never existed, I’m pretty sure you either think that Jesus will save you or, if not, that God has a plan. So keep praying and deluding yourself into thinking that America is exceptional in a good way. Don’t let the facts get in your way.
Oh, and before you say that I’m not patriotic and you are, guess again. I want our country to do better and you, apparently, are happy to keep letting it get worse.
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True patriotism is loving one’s country but not being blind to the need for changes or improvements. There is a vast difference between true patriotism and jingoism, which is blind, unthinking devotion that refuses the need to acknowledge problems, mistakes, or the need to change. The GOP’s idea of exceptionalism is for all of the wrong reasons, and they are doing everything in their power to ensure that this country is not exceptionalist in positive aspects like education, health care, infrastructure, etc.
Curious if anyone has a line on the hoax posted on FoxNewsPolitics twitter account, claiming President Obama had been shot to death in a Ross’s Restaurant in Iowa. False, of course, and Fox claims it was a hack, but they left the tweets up for hours. Could this be some kind of probe?
This is an excellent, well thought out article. Please pass it around. The main stream media insists in the participation of dumbing down America. People, please wake up before it’s too late.
That was my feeling: they were being used to fight a holding action until enough GOP could be put back in office to derail everything for good. Especially that self-important FOX, Lieberman!
“Exceptionalism” is what you get when you ignore and/or minimize the rape, murder, torture, slavery, kidnapping of the Founders and teach children that the Founders are Historical Patriotic American Icons of Freedom, Liberty, Equal Rights and the Pursuit of Happiness.
Just like to point out that the road out of poverty in the US is easy. You can do it too:
1. Graduate high school.
2. Get married before you have children and stay married.
3. Get a job, any job. Keep working.
Done, you are now out of poverty. Congratulations.
Its that easy huh? Amazing!
Boy, Eric, are you stuck in the past. Graduate high school and get a job? Flipping burgers? The jobs for high school graduates have been moved overseas. The last stats I saw said 28 million unemployed, less than 14 million jobs, and that’s for everyone, including college grads and experienced workers.
There’s nothing wrong with your advice, if this was 20 – 30 years ago. But it’s not, it’s today, and today is more like the 1930′s than the happy days of our previous lifetimes.