General Discussion

nadinbrzezinski

(154,021 posts)

3. It is not just wing nuts

Sat Mar 10, 2012, 09:16 AM

Mar 2012

Many Americans cling to the American myth, which includes Exceptionalism. The idea, and it is mythical, that we are the city on the hill, and all that is part of the Imperial credo.

Yes, the US has done great things, it's contributed to the world in positive ways. Like Rome, England and Spain, oh I forgot the Netherlands and the Middle Kingdom, we have this believe that God selected us (or the gods). Empires cling to this well after the end has come. And like other empires in history we are destined to go down in power, and become a second tier power. The process will be very painful, especially for those who cling to myth and not history.

This is also the reason why many dirty bits of American history, like oh food riots during the 1930s, or the Harlan County War, are rarery found in textbooks. They are contrary to the myth.

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Why do so many cling to the idea of american exceptionalism? [View all] libtodeath Mar 2012 OP

And I really don't know why so many pipoman Mar 2012 #1

Who is doing that? libtodeath Mar 2012 #7

My theory: It started with competition with The British Empire. no_hypocrisy Mar 2012 #2

That makes sense,thank you. libtodeath Mar 2012 #9

I think it predates that DavidDvorkin Mar 2012 #31

Sounds plausible. I concede. no_hypocrisy Mar 2012 #32

It is not just wing nuts nadinbrzezinski Mar 2012 #3

Wingers are always preaching personal responsibility which means learning from mistakes yet libtodeath Mar 2012 #8

Much of it is learned in grade school and high school history classes. I was a student in the 50s jwirr Mar 2012 #40

Collective guilt, denial, and scapegoating. It's like Absolution of Sin, there's a leveymg Mar 2012 #4

Damn, another book to read! nadinbrzezinski Mar 2012 #6

Go out and get "Violence and the Sacred" today. It's essential and revealing reading. leveymg Mar 2012 #16

I ordered from amazon nadinbrzezinski Mar 2012 #25

We'll put off the quiz for a week, then. ;-) Let me know what you think about it leveymg Mar 2012 #33

Collective Narcissism dynasaw Mar 2012 #5

from listening to a couple of my right wing aquaintances oldhippydude Mar 2012 #11

Then the fundies will run around libtodeath Mar 2012 #13

...same reason every 3-year old boy thinks he's the fastest runner there is bhikkhu Mar 2012 #10

A simple case of the contrary longship Mar 2012 #12

Americans do have a lot to be proud of. lumberjack_jeff Mar 2012 #14

We're obviously better because, um, wait. I'll think of it. HopeHoops Mar 2012 #15

For me it came from my earliest education raouldukelives Mar 2012 #17

Very true libtodeath Mar 2012 #19

Yes, to the national shame, racism clearly remains. hughee99 Mar 2012 #18

practically all other countries have wiped out racism? really? when did this happen? arely staircase Mar 2012 #39

Sort of my point... hughee99 Mar 2012 #41

then i misunderstood your point arely staircase Mar 2012 #42

Sorry, I actually have a bad habit of forgetting the hughee99 Mar 2012 #43

You use racism as an example SATIRical Mar 2012 #20

Tell that to the millions of Iraquis and Afghans who have had family killed by us over oil. libtodeath Mar 2012 #21

Don't you mean billions? SATIRical Mar 2012 #23

He made a true statement. DisgustipatedinCA Mar 2012 #29

Provide your evidence SATIRical Mar 2012 #36

This article adresses it clearly libtodeath Mar 2012 #44

According to those who know at least one million Iraqis died nadinbrzezinski Mar 2012 #30

By reliable counts SATIRical Mar 2012 #35

Sorry but the UN has calculated deaths in Iraq alone at million plus nadinbrzezinski Mar 2012 #46

Oops, guess you were wrong. Kingofalldems Mar 2012 #34

So your view of America is the correct one? cottonseed Mar 2012 #22

There is some history behind it. Zanzoobar Mar 2012 #24

Because we are an anti-intellectual country.... Bigmack Mar 2012 #26

Ego. Rex Mar 2012 #27

"Patriotism is the most foolish of passions, and the passion of fools." Schopenhauer Tierra_y_Libertad Mar 2012 #28

Anti-anti-anti-intellectualism. Obviously. Robb Mar 2012 #37

Krueger Dunning effect Generic Other Mar 2012 #38

it's a powerful tool for social cohesion iverglas Mar 2012 #45