Det danske Fredsakademi
Kronologi over fredssagen og international politik 18 Oktober
2008 / Time Line October 18, 2008
Version 3.5
17. Oktober 2008, 19. Oktober 2008
10/18/2008
Time for America to Join the World
By Don Monkerud
"America is an exceptional country." Sarah Palin
"I do believe in American exceptionalism." John McCain
When I return from a trip abroad, my friends invariably want to
know how people elsewhere view America. It's different from how we
view ourselves.
What's called "American exceptionalism" claims there is something
inherently unique and different about America because we were a
younger nation 200 years ago. We are more religious than others,
separated from the world due to two oceans, are richer and practice
an unusual form of democracy.
"American exceptionalism" believes that our behavior isn't
determined by ordinary rules, morals or judgments that determine
the behavior of other counties and people.
Often this notion of exceptionalism manifests itself in a
nationalistic love of country, expressed in bumper stickers that
read, "God Bless America," "Proud to be an American," "Support Our
Troops," and "These Colors Never Fade," which display an American
flag invariably bleached white by the sun. The true nature of these
themes go a step farther to reveal an uglier underlying sentiment:
"And Just Why in the Hell Do I Have to Press 1 for English,"
"Support our Troops: Shoot the Media," and "America: Bailing out
our critics since WWI."
First used by Alexis de Tocqueville, a Frenchman who visited the
U.S. in the early 1830s, American "exceptionalism" now has a long
history that derives from the United States' "special role" in the
world. Basic concepts developed through historic claims such as
Manifest Destiny, the U.S. destiny to rule the continent; "Speak
softly and carry a big stick," Theodore Roosevelt's policy of
threatening European powers who might intervene in South America;
and the "American Dream," the entitlement of every American to own
a house and become wealthy or at least well off.
Neocons reverently trumpet the notion that the U.S. can "go it
alone." We have both the right and the duty to operate
unilaterally, taking any action in the world that we want with no
regard for other countries or the consequences. It sounds nutty in
today's inter-connected world, but after eight years of rule by a
fanatical right-wing ideologue, the government swarms with people
who share these views.
The U.S. overturned international treaties, denounced the U.N. and
international cooperation, except when it's to our advantage, and
our courts now declare noncompliance with legal views routinely
accepted around the world. Neocons claim for the U.S. it's own set
of rules and judgments, and special treatment based on national
advantage in every field.
Pointing out differences in the historic development of the U.S. is
one thing, but using it as a foreign policy doesn't work. Today the
concept of "exceptionalism" is being used to justify a
hyper-nationalism that denies a common humanity with the rest of
the world, undercuts cooperation and reveals an arrogant disregard
for international opinion.
I bring up the concept of American exceptionalism to emphasize one
of the main lessons gained from travel-learning about myself,
including my culture, politics, values and practices. Once we reach
maturity and become responsible for ourselves, it's time to explore
the world and determine fact from fiction. I find that one of the
most difficult things about traveling is learning that the way I do
things isn't necessarily the best and it doesn't work for everyone.
This includes politics.
Is it any wonder that two major Republican figures had not traveled
outside the U.S. until they ran for office? George Bush and Sarah
Palin believe in American exceptionalism, partly because they never
traveled and never engaged other cultures on an equal basis. No
wonder they espouse culturally myopic views.
There is much to learn from other cultures, including how they care
for their citizens. My wife received free or low-cost medical care
in other countries where health care is a right, not a profitable
business. We discovered that Europeans live to eat, while Americans
eat to live, gobbling food in a rush to accomplish more. Europeans
work to live and enjoy life, family and friendship, while we live
to work and buy things. Europeans judge people by their attitudes
and outlooks, while we judge people by their accumulated
wealth.
Europeans realize they depend upon each other and must act in a
concerted effort.
Are our attitudes a result of a poverty of imagination or a lack of
travel? One of our foremost myths is that we lack a class system.
How can we ignore our system that's set up to favor the wealthy and
powerful? Or believe in myths that pacify us and perpetuate the
status quo? Why do we nominate people like Bush and Palin to govern
us?
Obviously, I cannot answer these questions. But traveling allows me
to see how others live and govern themselves. While they may have
just as many problems, they are often far more advanced and humane
in their solutions. One thing is for sure-human values, morality,
and characteristics are similar everywhere.
The U.S. is an exceptionally arrogant bully on the world stage
today. Voting for McCain and Palin will only perpetuate this kind
of exceptionalism; with
Barack Obama, it might begin to change.
10/18/2008
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