Editor's Note: Stewart Patrick is a Senior Fellow and the Director of the Program on International Institutions and Global Governance at the Council on Foreign Relations. He is the author of Weak Links: Fragile States, Global Threats, and International Security.
By Stewart Patrick
Over at Foreign Policy.com, prominent realist Stephen Walt has a thought-provoking article exposing “The Myth of American Exceptionalism.” His basic point: U.S. officials - and the American public - need to get over their conceit that the United States is a uniquely virtuous nation and an inevitable force for global good.Failure to do so blinds U.S. policymakers, encourages idealistic crusades that lead the country into quagmires and exposes the country to inevitable charges of hypocrisy as it confronts a complicated world. And while the notion of a benevolent American hegemony may be seductive to many Americans, one should not be surprised if others around the world regard the United States with a gimlet eye, given America’s checkered history of meddling in others’ affairs for narrow political, strategic, or pecuniary gain - to say nothing of its insistence on perpetual global military dominance.
The notion that the United States is unique among nations, of course, has been a touchstone of U.S. foreign policy from the republic’s founding. Historically, it has been invoked by both Democratic and Republican Presidents alike - from Woodrow Wilson, JFK and Bill Clinton to Teddy Roosevelt, Ronald Reagan, and George W. Bush.
But recently it is Republicans who have claimed a monopoly on the concept, blasting the Obama administration - and President Obama himself - for failing to pursue a sufficiently “pro-American” foreign policy.
Read: Stewart Patrick's blog, The Internationalist.
Indeed, GOP presidential candidates have had a field day with Obama’s tepid endorsement of the concept of American uniqueness. (During a 2009 European trip, the President conceded, “I believe in American exceptionalism, just as I suspect that the Brits believe in British exceptionalism and the Greeks believe in Greek exceptionalism.”) Mitt Romney’s recent, sharp critique of the president’s penchant for apologizing for the United States suggests that the question of American uniqueness will become a recurrent theme of the 2012 Presidential campaign. Given this prospect, Walt’s assault is a welcome rejoinder and offers some important truths.
The United States is hardly alone in seeing itself as exceptional - or having a unique global vocation. Consider France. Beyond its historical claims to a mission civilisatrice (civilizing mission), France maintains an enduring commitment to la Francophonie. Even despite France’s relatively diminished global status since 1940,the notion of being globally indispensable remains engrained in French political culture.(Indeed, one reason the post-war U.S.-French relationship has been such a prickly Cold Alliance stems from the two countries’ jockeying for similar universalisms. The American Revolution and U.S. Bill of Rights compete with the French Revolution and the Declaration of the Rights of Man).
“Among great powers,” Walt reminds us, “thinking you’re special is the norm, not the exception.” That’s certainly true for today’s putative challenger to American hegemony. Under a veneer of Communist Party ideology, today’s Chinese foreign policy is imbued with an enduring sense of national - indeed civilizational - self-importance. It dates back millennia, and depicts the country as standing apart. At times, “Chinese exceptionalism” depicts the country as literally the political center of the world.
Read: No Profile in Courage: Syria, BRICS, and the UNSC.
Walt seeks to demolish the pillars of American exceptionalism, showing that the United States is neither particularly benevolent nor divinely predestined. He documents historical excesses of America’s global role, from its scorched earth atrocities in the Philippines from 1898-1903 to its controversial conduct in the global war on terrorism. He suggests that “America’s past success is due as much to good luck” - including a fortunate geographical location - “as to any uniquely American virtues.”
Walt disputes the tendency of U.S. politicians and academics alike to attribute all positive global trends and outcomes - from the spread of democracy to postwar global prosperity - to U.S. global leadership. He points out that such analysis ignores the downside of U.S. primacy, like lack of progress on climate change. Finally, Walt dismisses the myth that God has somehow granted the United States a special providence, or “mandate of heaven,” to bring freedom, peace and justice to the world.
I'm is inclined to agree that American exceptionalism can be a perilous obstacle to sound foreign policy, but also recognize that it is part and parcel of American national identity. As such, it is likely to be with us for some time. Notwithstanding the litany of bad outcomes Walt describes, America’s liberal-exceptionalist political identity has at pivotal moments also encouraged the United States to define its national interests broadly - and to create a framework of international cooperation within which all countries, not just the United States, might benefit. The most prominent and celebrated example is the flurry of U.S. institution-building after 1945 - an effort designed, in the words of historian Anton DePorte, to “Lockeanize a hitherto Hobbesian world.” It is hard to imagine any other globally dominant power during that era exercising such far-sighted leadership. What the United States needs to guard against, always, is invoking American exceptionalism to excuse quixotic and foolhardy behavior, to invalidate deserved criticism, or to justify policies that harm innocents.
Read: Taking conflict prevention seriously.
Walt’s critique is a bracing wake-up call - a reminder that the United States, for all its great strengths and its capacity to influence the world for good, remains a fundamentally self-interested actor. It is possible to accept much of Walt’s indictment and still believe that the behavior of the United States stacks up quite favorably with that of any great power in world history (an admittedly low bar). But his piece usefully reminds Americans, who are not used to thinking of themselves as ruled by ideology, that we are often prisoners of our political culture. The GOP’s current monopoly on the discourse of American exceptionalism is surely astute politics. Whether it clarifies or obscures the global challenges facing the country is quite another thing.
The views expressed in this article are solely those of Stewart Patrick.
© 2012 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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The Hobbesian "Leviathan" as a political metaphor never gets out of fashion and we are very often prisoners of our fear, which we channel into the international organisations in order to "lockeanise" this Hobbesian state of nature "ALL AGAINST ALL".
Each country is special and has its exceptional qualities. The American exceptionalism would lose its international appeal if the GOP would hi-jack this advantage for their myopic and self-centred interests, instead of having the country's best interests at heart.
PLEASE – enough of the "It' the damned Republicans", already. It' toooooo boring for words.
The Republicans are rightly challenging the jobs Bill – You Dems are bleating that it's because they're protecting BIG business. That's BS. Obama's plan actually hits SMALL businesses. The Republicans are trying to protect them.
Grow up; ditch your juvenile propaganda and tell the truth for once.
yes AMERICA is a good country
The problem is that many Americans don't understand what is good about it. They have never seen past their own proverbial backyard and how good or bad it could be. They are often indifferent to the current environment, or march blindly to the tune of this articles critique, or are utterly cynical and offhandedly attribute to it terms they've never actually experienced in the ways it occurs in legitimately oppressive societies.
When you've been to countries like Switzerland, you understand what some of these critics of America are saying. America isn't that top of the line country anymore. There are a fair number of countries with higher social mobility, many countries that are considered "happier" than America, there are a few other countries with higher standard of living, there are plenty more countries that are considered less corrupt, etc. It really isn't as great anymore.
America used to be the country that everyone wanted to be a part of. Immigrants who came here 100 years ago came here to become a part of the American dream and change their and their families lives. When I hear immigrants talk trash about America, you know something's wrong. It seems like people feel like they have a right to be here and they care more about their homeland than America. The times have changed and America wasn't what it was many decades ago. And it doesn't make our case any better when we try to push our culture unto the rest of the world.
Many Americans take too many things for granted. I saw a homeless guy the other day. He was sleeping in a gazebo by the courthouse. He woke up, pulled a cell phone out of his pocket and made a phone call.
Even our homeless guys have cell phones. Tell that to the occutards.
ALL HAIL SATAN!!
Another liberal atheist for Satan.
Yawn.
if it hasn't been translated into chinese, it aint worth listening.
Ding moy fung how!
Wanna know what it means?
Look it up.
The answer is more than a yes or no but for simplicity I will say yes. We have gotten off track with our priority's such as what is good for Americans as opposed to other country's and we need to keep in mind those things that attracted so many here. All those people did not come here because where they came from was so nice and they above all should be reminded of that. The freedoms we enjoyed here once should be respected by our government and all that live here, political correctness and a new world order be dammed.
"The freedoms we enjoyed here once should be respected by our government..."
I think that really says it all...
American Exceptional today revolves around Americans being exceptional obese, arrogant, opinionated, intolerant, loud and just super super CHRISTy...
WOW!
Something the entire world is just lusting to emulate!
Why so bitter? Not even one good thing to say about your country or your countrymen?
And how long did it take to come across the thought? A lot of folks I know who work with internationals already behave the way Obama did. I guess the point behind Obama's remark is what makes him a giant amongst the other political minnows.
such a salient question. Looking at the numbers we have lost ground on most of what we consider our exceptionalism - education, GDP, life expectancy, health, quality of life, birth mortality, etc. only our military might is exceptional, and like Rome or any other Empire, that is the signal of the end of our exceptional empire.
Our exceptionalism has obviously always been as much a political shibolleth than reality to get the masses humming. But our generosity to spread the gospel of democratic Republics has been real, given the amount of democratic nations that have grown in the past 40 years. Even if capitalism and markets drove some of that, markets and democracy go hand in hand, so that is jaded to say only quest for markets drove our exceptional faith in spreading democracy. Americans really do believe in the exceptional qualities of a democratic Republic.
That said, with the democracy stops working for the people, the prosyletizing stops too. We see that now. Americans arent benefitting form this exceptional democratic experiment, and as a result the zeal for benevolence to other countries and nation building has waned. We exceptionally have given to other countries because we believe in free, democratic liberalism, not charity, and we believe the benevolence serves that goal. These days that faith in democracy is tenuous, so giving now just feels like charity cases, and americans dont like that
I think your view of the US eagerly exporting democracy is somewhat flawed. There are plenty of regimes that the US has backed or is still backing, which are not democratic: Saudi Arabia, Egypt (up to Mubarak), Kuwait, Pakistan (under Musharraf), Iraq (under Hussein), and so on an on. Then there are cases where the US helped to overthrow legitimate governments to install a tyrant that suited US interests better. Iran (Mossadeq/Pahlavi), Chile (Allende/Pinochet), etc.
It never was exceptional. Exceptionalism (arrogance) is what got the US in three wars, spanning five countries (Libya, Yemen, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iraq. Technically you could call military actions in Yemen isolated airstrikes, but you get the idea.
Really? Not exceptional. Tell that to immigrants who come here trying to escape oppressive regimes. Tell that to nations that we send massive amounts of aid to after natural disasters.
Muslim aggression against the U.S. has long been a disgusting thing altogether. There is no apologizing for those folks, never will be.
If you don't believe the message that this article is trying to express, take a vacation outside the country. Not just to the tourist areas either, go where the local cultures are and try and make friends, or even volunteer to help people who need it. Only by leaving this country one realizes how comfortable we can get in this golden cage that we live in.
Not sure what countries you're talking about taking a vacation to? There are many countries that have better standards of living than the USA.
I think you misinterpreted Roberto's point that our self-perception is vastly different from those outside – think you are actually both in agreement. Which raises the question, how much do we actually self-reflect? I don't think we do at all because what we would see is pretty ugly and self-serving. We fixate on material possessions as the barometer of our value to the point where we are consumed with the insatiable desire for wanting/having without regard for the rest of the world.
17 countries have better standards of living at the present. By next year I expect there will be more than two dozen. Most of them 'socialist' (by the Tea Party/GOP definition of the word).
More Americans should leave their own shores and really try to understand the world around them.
The geography of North America has served America from a military perspective, but it has also insulated average Americans from the rest of the world at large. Relatively few Americans have even a passing knowledge of foreign countries and cultures, causing many Americans operate under the assumption that everyone in the rest of the world would be an American if given the opportunity. Of course, this assumption is a convenient myth, perpetuated largely by the ongoing immigration issues at the southern border. Further, if most Americans had a greater knowledge of the world, they would know that the American president is not the 'leader of the free world', America did not invent democracy or the BlackBerry, and America did not win both World Wars single-handedly.
Despite this, America has shown great strength, innovation and generosity on countless occasions. Perhaps America would be better served if it simply tried to be great rather than exceptional.
I agree with your message; however, it is really geting more and more difficult to find countries who truly welcome Americans... unless you count the ones that want to kidnap us for ransom or behead us.
Short answer: NO
We're a nasty fascist, corporations are people, predatory capitalist cesspool.
And the sooner we throw all these tea fascists out and quit thinking we something special the better off this country will be.
.
I don't know where you get your opinion from but I have worked in more than 60 countries around the world on every continent and that sure is not the perception from the rest of the world. I have delivered hundreds of thousands of tons of food in Africa to starving people, all donated by American people and corporations. One of the wealthiest people in the world, Bill Gates, has given millions to research to help the people suffering from malaria (one of the biggest killers) around the world. The world sees America as benevolent and most people would prefer to stay in America over their own countries. America is exceptional! Without America, the bullies of this world would simply overrun every small nation but now they have to hesitate and consider the repercussions. Thank you America!
Wow, that is surely not the reaction to America that I have noticed. I personally do not see America as benevolent and have numerous times encountered cold civility in other countries...until I reassure them that I am not American. In fact, the only people that I have met that view America this way are Americans.
You are not telling the truth; why would they assume you are American until you say otherwise? Far more Europeans travel than Americans.
In the past 20 years I only came across one person who had anything bad to say about America and then i found out that she had even never met any Americans before.
I've lived in the United States of America (which is it's correct name, not "America") for 3 years and been around the world in several countries both in America (the continent of course) and Europe, and my perception of U.S.A., and that of most internationals, is one of an arrogant country who has self proclaimed the "savior of the world" feeling the need to intervene where it is not needed or impose its ideology which is not asked for most of the time.
That's why I think you alboze are lying and just trying to push your patriotism and arrogance above truth, which of course has hurt your pride. Is not that pretty when you are forced to look at the mirror right?
The U.S.A. is not a bad country, it has so many great things. Its problem is that it thinks it has to impose its way of doing things to all over the world no matter what and that creates problems with people. Just ask the arab world what do they think about U.S.A. and you will understand.
Saying America is EXCEPTIONAL simply does not make it so... visiting 60 countries to help the starving and the poor does not make you exceptional – although you may think so – it merely makes you HUMAN...
Yes America is still exceptional, thankfully one president like Obama can't destroy it. Like it or not, America is the Camelot of the free world. Those that wish to bring down America wish to bring down the free world. There is something about free people that gives socialist nightmares. They only chose to corral in free people with dependency. I guess we are supposed to feel ashamed of being exceptional as the Obamas see it.
Ahh, makes more sense when you understand this guy promotes a global order and shuns states sovereignty.
Exceptionally greedy, exceptionally warlike, exceptionally fascistic, exceptionally dishonorable, exceptionally deluded, exceptionally religious? Take your pick. They're all true and have been for a long time.
How can a country consider itself exceptional when millions live in poverty while it spends billions fighting wars it starts on foreign shores, when it can't even provide the basics for its citizens like health care, when it cares more for faceless corporations and banks than for its citizens, when it kills its own citizens, when it plundered and stole most of its land from the original inhabitants, when it locks people up for years without charge. In a way it is execeptional, exceptionally bad!
The ignorant posts to this article demonstrate how poorly the American public school system and lamestream media have educated the masses. To believe that "exceptional" in this context has anything to do with our so called arrogance is missing the point. But why should I be surprised, liberals are not very good at nuance anyway.
So the perception of "exceptionalism" and patriotism are not inextricably linked?
Right Sarah, right Sarah, right Sarah: Sarah Palin is always RIGHT...
Fgjjhvbn
Article is spot-on. Conservatives can't bring themselves to believe it, which is why they're trying to edit textbooks to get rid of all the uncomfortable truths. But those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it. America has begun the downward spiral of its eventual demise.
Well, maybe Hitler or Stalin is better leader then? How about Syria or Iran? OH and don't forget the Taliban and Islamic Militants! It is time for us to go back to a modern isolationism. I want to do an experiment for one year! We will not interfere with anyone's affairs, not Israel, not Humanitarian aide, not Arab freedom fighters, not the Korean peninsula, not Palestine nothing. Our warships protect our goods and interest only, we don't care about anyone else. Army/Marines stand teeth sharpened waiting for an attack on us, USAF and USN waiting to support them. Who cars what despot from dump of a country does to his people or neighbors and see if our opinion in the world changes?
Then they'll hate America for not intervening. hehe
"What the United States needs to guard against, always, is invoking American exceptionalism to excuse quixotic and foolhardy behavior, to invalidate deserved criticism, or to justify policies that harm innocents."
Very well said, as this is exactly what the conservative party in this country is and has been doing for some time now.
"Walt dismisses the myth that God has somehow granted the United States a special providence, or “mandate of heaven,” to bring freedom, peace and justice to the world."
If people take nothing else from this article, or the article by Walt, this above all other considerations should be taken note of.
This article is a bit boring but makes good points. I've always found American exceptionalism obnoxious. Many people want to live in America, but many have no interest, they love the countries they live in. I think our views of "being the best country" in the world blocks us from doing better. So many countries are doing good things and we could learn from them but we are stuck in this we are the best thing. I also hate the God love America stuff. Doesn't love us more than he loves anyone else.
I don't think we are exceptional at all. I think if you compare our society to that of other countries, you will see that we are overall a fat, lazy, selfish society that has lost become ignorant of the ideas of hard work, honesty, and integrity. We expect handouts from the government. Welfare, medicare and medicaid, although life savers for those who truly struggle, end up getting wasted on the lazy people of america that try to get as much as they can while putting forth as little effort as they can. Now, there are good, honest, and decent people everywhere, but I believe that our overall society continues to become more fat, lazy, arrogant, and selfish.
OK, let's see. There were riots in London where students wanted free higher education. There have been riots in Greece over the "austerity" measures passed (steps taken to keep the county running). Now we have like-minded riots in this country. Seems we caught this laziness bug from Europe – socialism.
That can be remedied.
It's not laziness if one wants to work but there is no work to be had.
S
my wife is from China, my best friend in college was from Greece and I have had many friends from all over the world. I have also been to Egypt, Panama, Jamaica, PR China, and Canada. My wife and friends have told me that American is exceptional in Freedom. And, yes, we are more benevolent. My wife was moved when she met an american couple who adopted a chinese child with a deformaty. She noted that only americans would adopt a child with a physical problem.
My sister in Austria adopted a child from Africa with a severe physical impairment. No exceptionalism there.
Your wife has led a very sheltered life, with not much to compare countries with or against. I would suspect that living in China would really give you an appreciation and positive background to form a great world view.
I know that having a husband who drank the entire pitcher of Kool-Aid [i.e. American Exceptionalism] is very helpful too.
I can assure you that isn't the case. People from many countries are willing and able to adopt children with physical and intellectual disabilities – I know quite a few in Australia and parts of Europe that have done the same. And as an Australian who has travelled widely and lived in a number of different countries, I don't think the USA is exceptional. The USA has certainly had a great deal to do with the way the world has evolved in the last centuary, but so have many other countries.
I agree with a number of other people that have posted – the USA isn't generally seen as a saviour, or as benevolant. More often, it is the complete opposite. Americans are often considered incredibly ignorant. That doesn't make it right – but... the more rhetoric that claims you are so much better than the rest of us, the more the negatives stick.
And personally, I wouldn't live in the USA for anything in the world. I like to visit, sure. But given the choice, I'd choose Australia, Canada or parts of Europe to live in. Why? The general standard of living is higher – and nationalised health care is a good thing, among other things. Each to their own!
"the USA isn't generally seen as a saviour, or as benevolant" – then stop expecting a handout every time you have a disaster.
Last I checked, Australia as a country sends aid to the US when disasters happen there too – Hurricane Katrina, for example. It goes both ways, as it should in times of trouble. During the floods in January, we actually declined almost all the aid that was offered – except that from New Zealand.
Same experience here. My friend came from Russia. She's tough and no nonsense, but she has remarked how giving and genuinely selfless so many Americans are. She's done significant travel, and no where has she encountered a country so willing to help. She also came here 12 years ago not knowing the language and no job. She now speaks fluently and makes a very nice living. So she also thinks the opportunities here are pretty exceptional.
That is has become fashionable to be so self-loathing seems to be an odd side-effect of affluence.
Its people are exceptional, its diversity is exceptional, its moral strength is exceptional, but so is the government and corporate corruption exceptional. We the People can and will fix this whether the government or the corporations want it done or not. They no longer have a say in it.
America stopped being exceptional a long time ago.
Next question.
I just bought a new car. I have a great job and I'm not in debt.
I disagree with you. America IS exceptional.
Maybe you're just a loser.
I was thinking about voting for Obama. But, this article encourages me to vote republican. Everything stated is either false or one-sided. I am so glad FoxNews is around to remind CNN that they do not have a monopoly on the opinions or political beliefs of this country.
Oh please
FOX News is VERY ONE SIDED
the republicants want to destroy america
it's not that the republicans are so great. It's just that they are better than the alternative; sometimes.
And I suppose MSNBC is fair and balanced?
Republicans have kidnapped the U.S.A. They are not only poisonous to the world, but to their own people too. They are like cancer. Only thinking in themselves and forgetting the rest of the body. They shoot down good ideas just because they are from the other team or just because they will affect the people who donate money to their campaigns. I feel sorry for the U.S.A.
Exceptional? Yes, exceptionally sad.
very well said
And of course your POTUS, Boy Wonder is an upright and honorable man????? Yeah right!
He promised over 2 years ago to bring the long-suffering and loyal troops home from Iraq and Afghanistan. He suddenly remembers his promise JUST before the 2012 election..............WOW, How thoughtful to leave the men in harm's way until it would pay dividends for HIM in VOTES.
You people are unbelievable. He makes the Republicans look like Tiny Tim!!!
RIGHT!
The Lab called: your brain is ready...
I seriously doubt you were ever thinking about voting for Obama. And if you were, I seriously doubt this article alone, or the comments, would change your mind.
What I find particularly a particularly obnoxious example of the arrogance of American Exceptionalism is the insistence upon referring to our (in many ways nonetheless great) country as America. The name is The United States of America, or simply the United States. Calling this country America is an insult and an affront to the people of Canada, Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and the rest of North, Central, and South AMERICA.
No country can be exceptional that's bankrupt.
Well said.
We are exceptional at destroying things. We are mediocre at making things. No, we're just bad at it.
There are no better words to describe it. You have my compliments.
What the United States needs to guard against, always, is the pseudo-intellectual exceptionalism displayed by those attempting to tell us what and how to think.
Exactly. It's another opinion slapped on us by CNN, Similar to what they do with Fareed. The Council on Foreign Relations is another INDEPENDENT news organization. In other words they are full of people who have a general loathing for the United States. The U.S should be this, the U.S. should be that, blah blah blah. I'm worried about getting a job you idiot. Most Americans have their feet planted on the ground unlike these snobbish ex-patriots.
If you need a job, just keep repeating to those potential employers that you are an Exceptional American, Exceptional American, Exceptional American and soon you will experience American Exceptionalism...
What's your point Jean, I never said American's were exceptional, nor do most Americans think they are. This article is pointless propaganda that means nothing the average american.
Americans are exceptionally stupid. That's about it.
Another canadian that wishes he were american. Go back to your room little one
America is unExceptional...Does your mommy or daddy know that you are using the computer and going on big people's web sites? You'd better go watch your Telletubbies DVD and go to sleep!
to 'America is Exceptional':
I certianly don't think that it was polite to call Americans stupid.... but to say that all Canadians wish they were Americans, is, well, STUPID!!!
JohnCanada,
Absolutely correct. Why just look at all the morons that support the teabaggers and republiClowns! Their prerequisite is to have an IQ under 60. Most are way under 60!!
People, not nations, are stupid. And people are everywhere. The chances are high that as one you are also stupid.
I could not have said it better...
I moved to Canada 4 years ago. What a great country! Ilove it. The people are second to none; the healthcare is great; the place is clean..... I could go on.
I went to America once. It was a shambles from the minute I got off the plane. Immigration was unprofessional; airport staff were rude and unfriendly; food halls were dirty and it went downhill from there. Never again. Can't say I'Mm surprised at the mess you're in.
My best friends son [British / white, works of merchant ships. When they dock – the Americans let Muslims in on shore leave but not British. Considering your paranoia, if find that insane – but, typical.
Hellz yeah! But only an exception to a long history of crap.
America always good for bankers.
That's because we have money to put into the banks.
What does your country have? Horse manure?
You're just jealous because you can't put horse manure in a bank.
Or maybe you can in your country?
I've met people in Nicaragua, Costa Rica, many Filipinos that have moved here, some Brits that have moved here and they all believe that America is great, exceptional in many ways over other countries.
Do you really see people in the last 50 yrs migrating in droves to Cuba, Venezuela, Iran, Russia, Greece, Spain, Yemen or any other country? No, they seek to come mostly to America.
I dont think you get the point America is good on ads only because the holliwood movies. Lot people i know went to America live a while then left, those who stay mostly are taking the advantages of your social programs thats about it.
I repect you opinion. But, it's different from what i have seen. Many of my friends from abroadare grateful for our freedoms and opportunities.
Thanks J.a.a – what you said about sums it up.
I see people in the future migrating less to the U.S.A. an more to the U.K., Spain, France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Australia, Canada, and the nordic countries.
You have a false impression that people want to migrate to the U.S.A. because of the hordes of latin-americans coming from 3rd rate countries who migrate there legally or illegally. They do so because the U.S.A. is the closest 1st rate country they have. But if the were equally close to Spain or France they would gladly move there instead of the U.S.A.
No j a a – they go to China though. It is up and coming as "THE" place to be.
What the American people need to do is to get over their arrogance and self-righteousness about this country being "exceptional" which is definately not the case. They have the phoney notion that this country has the right to do whatever it wants to including defeating and occupying other countries halfwat around the world. The truth is that we're no better that other people, just wealthier. In fact, we're no longer a true democracy, just a right-wing bureaucracy headed by the MIC(military-industrial-complex).
Maybe not exceptional but the best there is! And America never was a Democracy, its always been a Republic.
Not the best anymore. Many European countries have developed a better political system that the ill-fated bipartisan one found in the U.S.A. A bipartisan system is a bad idea no matter how you try to see it because it ensures slow progress or gridlock, just like it is happening right now. The U.S.A. almost defaults because of that. Way to go for the so called best one.
@Sack
By your statement and criticism of the US Legislative System is just proof that you don't know anything about our system. This gridlock and slowness is by design. It isn't some mistake or consequence by accident. It is the perfect design for us. It is only in the past few years that the rabid sectionalism is occuring. This is just a phase, it will pass with time.
@ Shaun
Oh I do know it very wall. That's why I mentioned it was flawed from the beginning. You want to "think" it was made like that for a greater good, but that's not true. The U.S. always stumbles with this system every time important and critical decisions have to be made. That's why U.S.A. is losing its edge against Europe and Asia. They have evolved their systems while the U.S.A. keeps the same flawed one under the delusion of believing it is the best.
But you like it, so good luck with your credit downgrade, your worst medical system in industrialized nations, your declining education quality, high debt (in the trillions) and your high unemployment rate. All of that shows how great your bipartisan system is.
There is a difference between Exceptionalism... and Ego. "Maybe" this country started out as an exceptional one, but it quickly nose dived. And the nose diving process seems to be speeding up as of late. Sorta like what happened to Rome.
last I checked, Rome was and empire ruled by Emporers.
The US however, is a two-party system, ruled only by bicameral legislation. This is a tid-bit you forgot to calculate in your simplistic remark.
It doesn't matter, because a bipartisan system is a failed system. Slowness, division, bitter fights and gridlock is what happens when you use such a system. Just remember the almos default and S&P downgrade because of that. Actually, Rome did better, they lasted way more.
Delusional Daniel: Get back on your Meds!
Sorry folks, I never posted the above. America's two party system no longer works since both parties have been corrupted by the MIC(military-industrial-complex) to serving only the right-wing interests while successfully deceiving the general public!
I'd have to say its a toss up between Germany and US as far as the most critical inventions of all of mankind, including ushering in the Atomic age, the automobile, computers/binary, pretty much every major medical discovery, most and first true capitalist and post-social nation respectively, etc. Germany and US will always rule the world for being alpha and so generous coeval unlike China, India, Africa (as a whole), Europe (somewhat), South America of waste, Australia-ego-ipicus.. etc..
I think Germany is ahead of the U.S.A. Even after being defeated after WWI they recovered and went on a second one against the world. It was required to use all of the remaining forces of Europe plus the U.S.A. to defeat them. After that, they were divided for a long period of time and when they finally reunited they went all over again to the first spots. They #1 economy in Europe, the 1st one to get out of the recession and the major european country bailing out the failed ones. It's also the biggest exporter in Europe. And their products? Finest ones. Just look at the BMWs, Mercedez and Porsches out there.
No matter how much you hurt them they always rise from the bottom and reach to the top.
In fact, your rocket science and space progress (something U.S. citizens are so proud of) is owed to one man: Wernher von Braun, and you guessed it, he was German.
Oh and one more thing: Einstein while jew he was German too.
You are forgetting one very important factor sir. The only reason Germany was able to come out of WW2 with any sort of infrastructure was because of the MASSIVE amount of money that the US had to pour into the country. If it wasn't for the Marshal Plan, Europe would still be recovering from the war.
Money which was declined by the comunist side of the wall in Germany. So it wasn't THAT massive. Also you forgot that Germany is still paying for WWII and they just finished paying for WWI while the U.S. can't even pay it's own people, soldiers, etc. So who is the winner? Not the U.S. for sure.
Yes.
Once I spent a week with an IBM executive in Canada who kept complaining that Americans always talk about how everything is bigger and better in the USA. Finally I couldn't stand the complaining anymore and I asked him if he had ever been to Texas. After he gave me a funny look I said, "Well, actually the burgers ARE bigger and better."
No doubt the obesity in America is vastly bigger.
Thus, you make my point.
The obesity is exceptional in the U.S.A.
As an American (U.S.), I feel exceptional in our freedom only not much else. Even calling ourselves Americans is pretty pretentious when there are other countries that are 'American'.
To the later, I believe it is a fair usage. We are the United States of America. And yes the continents bear the same but we're the only country on either to include it in our name. There is no confusion about it and it has been accepted shorthand for a long time.
Sorry to burst the bubble, but Mexico name is Estados Unidos Mexicanos, which means United States of Mexico.
That's an assumption only made by U.S. citizens, because in reality, a Chilean is an american, a Canadian is an American, and Argentinian is an American, and guess what? Mexicans are Americans too.
Just an other example of the U.S.A.'s arrogance. Thank you.
America is exceptional as an immigrant-receiving country. Only Canada and Australia have similar histories.
Still, let's not forget that the present system of government has only been in place for about half of America's European-dominated history and in some ways only since the Civil War. It could easily split up or give way to something quite different.
There are parts of the U.S. that are unique in the world, like Wall Street, Silicon Valley or Hollywood. These are exceptional and continue to attract people. But very few people from other G8 countries see the U.S. itself as especially attractive. That day is long gone.
Wall St is still very attrative to us.
All anyone has to do is go overseas to almost any country, not vacationing, but staying for 3-6 months at a time and when you get back to the USA the answer to this questions will be obvious and easily answered! A resounding YES. The United States is the most exceptional, organized, orderly, safe, and affordable country to live in the world. It is the most spacious and with magnificient geography within our borders that would rival any beautiful place in the world. close the doors, trap yourself for the rest of your life within the United States and you will not feel that you missed out a=on anything in life. Every other country in the world knows this also and that's why they hate the USA and it's citizens because they feel we are blessed too much. Personally I don't feel anyone can be blessed too much. LORD, please keep it coming for my home the good old USA.
Thank You! Well said! I have lived and worked in many countries around the world and I have chosen the good old USA as my home. I will be a citizen within 5 months and will be a proud American. Americans who criticize their own country should be ashamed of themselves.
lols
I respectfully disagree. There are other countries around the world that offer more opportunity, greater public safety, better organization and affordability, and also boast a wealth of geographical diversity and beauty. I can't understand why some citizens in the United States can't grasp that they are simply citizens of the world, no better than anyone else. This isn't Orwell's "Animal Farm," where all animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.
I have no reason to leave my own country to go to the United States. The U.S.A. offers me nothing that I cannot get here, and I prefer the quality of life in my own country. There's a difference between being proud of your country and allowing that pride to distort your worldview into believing that your citizenship makes you somehow better than everyone else in the world, that your nation has been 'blessed' in some way that makes it better.
Why get so defensive about it? The U.S. is a great country, but there's no need to delude yourself into believing it's the best in the world. Like it or not, some of us prefer our own nations to yours, and we feel thankful to live where we do.
And you are able to say all this using American technology. You were also able to travel safely around the world in aircraft, (mostly American) using GPS which is American and communicating on a cell phone which originated in America. Get off your high horse and admit that America has produced most of the worlds technology and advanced the whole world way beyond where it would be.
To alboze, many technologies you are mentioning were based on european technologies too. So stop being dazzled by the U.S.A. and see the reality. The U.S.A. is a great country but is not the only one, nor the best.
Elle you just said perfectly. Thank you.
Obviously you have never been to Canada!
Well said – Canada, [particularly British Columbia for me] is absolutely beautiful. The people are second to none; the healthcare is great; transit is well run and safe...........I could go on.
I visited America once. Never again. Truly. From the minute I got off the plane at O'Hare I was met with rudeness; unfriendliness and dirty eating places. Never again.
Spain, France, Austria, and so many other countries are far better than the U.S.A. in everything but fast food.
Oh and I forgot to add Canada which is next to U.S.A. and has more beautiful everything.
I just spoke with your LORD; he says nothing more is coming...
Deal with it!
I spoke with him, too. He said you're screwed.
Hey Davis... you should add an /s for sarcasm to the end of your post. Some people here actually took it seriously (!)
Oh, yes, let's all praise the lord. Because we all know that god, in his infinite wisdom, puts the good old US of A at the top of his favorite countries list. Same with my favorite football team, the Cowboys, bless his heart. Good thing, too, because now America's bright future is assured.
Of course it is "exceptional."
Now people have come to define this term several different ways however.
It does NOT mean that we have the right to go around the world and invade countries willy-nilly. This is NOT "exceptionalism."
What it does mean, is that America, despite it's differences, is a system of people who cooperate in such a way as to make and create legislation that evolves over time given the current cultural and political climate. It has the capabilities of evolving based on yes... corruption, nepotism, grafting, etc. So what – we are ONE, and we will stand together. If we sneeze, then the rest of the world catches a cold. We will however, survive, whereas the same cannot be said for other countries.
America is exceptional!
We have an exceptional infant mortality rate, the highest infant mortality rate among industrial nations!
We have an exceptional education system, the worst among industrial nations, the highest dropout rate among industrial nations!
We have an exceptional prison system, one that is so good that people are clambering to get in so we have the highest percentage of the population imprisoned among industrial nations!
Poverty rate, homeless population, the most firearms per capita, corrupt politicians, corrupt judges, illegal immigrants – yes we excel at those as well!
By George, we are exceptional, aren't we?
you should be thankful that our prison systems are "exceptional."
Otherwise your life would be ephemeral.
Now go reach for your dictionary lib.
You don't get to keep score of the cons unless you balance it against the pros. Most of the industrial nations you're referring to are also a fraction of the US in size. In fact Europe, made of 50 countries, fits within that border and to spare. And in case you didn't notice they've all got their own bag of problems. Exceptional doesn't mean perfect.
Perhaps the answer is to break the US up into a bunch of more manageable countries that aren't a constant threat to the rest of the world.
Did Sarah Palin tell you Europe is made up of 50 countries?
haha – Europe made of 50 countries. Exceptional education system.
We also have the best colleges in the world. Students from all over this globe come to the US for an education.
We are also the most inventive. Movies, music, technology. I am tired of people who dump on America.
Sure...Washington stinks but show me a country where the government doesn't. If you don't like the US
then leave...if you don't live here then don't visit. It's that simple.
The problem is, many of our innovators are increasingly from other countries. Almost half of our Phds in engineering and science are foreign born. What's gonna happen when their home countries (China, India, Korea) get a leg up?
Don't be misled Derrick. The foreign-born engineering and science grads are here to make money, not help the U.S. If they can get similar jobs back home they would not be here.
I also heard we had the highest sarcasm rate in the world.
It's become fashionable to dump all over America. No surprise.
It's never gone out of style with the left wing of the Democrat party.
My grandparents immigrated to this nation in 1913, so I am the son of immigrants. I grew up in this country. I went to school here, college and university. I also studied in Europe. I have a passport, and I use it, and I am able to honestly compare this nation to others. Some things are good, some not so good. But, we are still a beacon for millions. We have an industrial base that is still unsurpassed, regardless of recent economics. We have by far the best university system in the world, and the best medical science. Americans are kind, generous people, but we are not perfect. I love my country, and want to make it even better. We have horrendous crime in this country, and we need to take care of our infrastructure. If you have ever been outside of the US, when you come home, you know that there is nowhere like it It's home. A decent place to live. I cannot imagine living my life anywhere else.
Not so much, thanks to the GOP. Corporate America's expansion into China was paid for by the American taxpayer. Bush's “tax cuts for the rich” policy helped to fund this transition. That's why no American jobs were created but a lot of Chinese jobs were. Republican politicians represent the corporate rich, the 'job creators'. When was the last time you saw a job created in the U.S.? The rich don't pay tax in this country and their corporations are physically based in communist China; where, by the way, SOCIALIZED healthcare and SOCIALIZED education are the norm and ALL the banks are state owned. These former American companies only pay tax in China, supporting a growing communist government and military. Republican politicians sold us (U.S.) out. These guys aren't batting for us (U.S.) anymore.
If you are saying that the "rich" are the people who received tax cuts, why would they need them if, as you claim, "the rich don't pay tax"? Also, jobs are not "created", they are a result of a business climate where people feel safe to invest. As long as the "rich" are demonized by people like you, you can be sure the jobs will never come back. You lefties are killing the goose that lays the golden egg. You talk bad of China's system but you want Americans to follow the same path as them by getting rid of the wealthy, demonizing land owners, and discouraging hard earned achievement just like Mao did.
Well said Kweg, American politicians (especially the GOP) have done nothing to stop the exportation of our jobs.
What made America exceptional is our ideals, principles and morals we live by as a nation. We believe in individual responsibility and accomplishments. We have been blessed by GOD our creator aided in our times of need – such as our founding of this nation and overcoming the odds. Over the years we have let our morals slip and started envying others success. The backbiting, suing or neighbors, and socialism are symptoms of our decay. We can become strong again, but we must realize we answer to a higher authority than ourselves.
The United States of America sucks.
So does your mama.
No. We have become a belligerent, self-righteous and overweight bully on the World's playground. And I have never seen so much hate and division among Americans – whether it's politics, religion, race, class, etc. We talk more than listen, demand more than ask, and generally are too consumed with our own lives (and Facebook) to really give a damn about the future of the country or anyone outside of it.
Speak for yourself.I have no hate for other Americans,just the policies of both Political parties that cater to the Rich.
And besides, we own you. Soon we will take over your factories, farm land and then YOU.
Not going to happen – we have the largest army in the world... our citizens. Thanks to the second amendment we have the means to defend ourselves. YOU LOSE!
Uh.... your army is huge and bleeding your country dry and too many people having guns in the US resulting in the high crime rate..... You kill each other before your defence is even half put up....unless you want to nuke the world (the only thing the US excells at since they can't even win a war with a country with less than half the tech).
Fix yourself stupid!
But you do not know Kung Fu!
Oh, yeah? We'll stop paying you and pull our companies out of your country. What are you going to do then, repossess us? Come and take it, Fumanchu.
Looks like we've got a stalemate.
Another stupid article by Communist News Network.Why act like a downer at a Prep Rally.If American exceptionalism helps Americans pull together and get to work, so be it.BTW America is Exceptional and Americans are moralistic.Europe,Asia,and Africa would totally tear each other apart if American weren't throwing money,technology,food,and medicine,and yes the occasional military threat.Even Europe sucks.The poorest E.U. nation member is still worst than the poorest American State.Why?
Dear you need to open up your eyes. You *think* the world needs america and you are dead wrong. Ever travelled outside the states??? You would not be making that comment if you had. America is great but so are a whole bunch of other countries.
I have traveled outside the States.I have been to foreign Nations more times than other American States.It's the same every time.Euro Trash wants me to wish my ancestors stayed which I don't,I do feel bad though when it comes to other Nations in both American continents and think relations should be better,but I don't think there will ever be trust for awhile.
The term "Yankee go home" did not come about by accident.
Since when is "America" a country. I always thought it was a continent split into two halves, north and south. The United States arrogance in calling thier country "America" says it all.
I bet your a baby Boomer too.
Never thought about it that way. Has a nice majestic ring to it, I guess. "America..."
You are confusing The Americas with America (USA).
Las time i checked, America was a continent while the U.S.A. (a mere country) was United States of America NOT America. Get your facts straight alboze.
This country was built to be a powerhouse of innovation. If we are no longer innovating, then we are no longer exceptional. Many American youth are intoxicated with popular culture and the instant gratification that new technologies like personal computers, smart phones, and televisions bring. To be sure, this is not a bad thing. In fact, it's a part of human evolution and Maslow's hierarchy. But when they interfere with work ethic and the basic desire for education, then it becomes a serious problem. After looking at the unemployment numbers for youths 16-24 (particularly Black youth) I'd say there's a serious problem. And as a Black youth, this gives me a lot to think about.
Put simply, the problems with the education system are not the illness in this country, but rather symptoms of the illness. And until this illness is addressed... America cannot be exceptional, in my opinion.
America still innovates just doesn't build anything anymore.BTW most people have never been interested in learning.That's okay the few who are will find a way to seek it out.The problem is integrity,I blame smart people taking advantage of the weak,not the weak themselves.People can't just make themselves smarter.We don't have the same capabilities,nothing will ever change that.Protester both Teabaggers and 99ers know something is wrong even if people can't always articulate what it is,they are getting cheated.
Another problem is that most of the engineering and science Phds are foreign born. This was true when my dad went to graduate school in the 80s and is even more true today. I go to an engineering college where I am surrounded by Asian-born classmates and the only other Black students here are African-born. Most of my American friends decided not to go to grad school and pursue dreams of building a start-up but the foreign students didn't think twice! What if these foreign students ALL went back home? Then we can agree that there is a problem with our culture.
I don't know what state your from but necessity is the mother of invention.Eventually their would be engineers.
America will be great again in about 10 years after Boomers(worst generation in American History) are out of the way with their culture wars and horrible Presidents.And then unfortunately for the World Gen X,the most Libertarian group of Government haters ever.They will cut all foreign everything because of their isolationist views.Besides the rest of the world also has a bunch of Boomers to deal with and how to pay for their retirement.
The US is indeed a great country, but it is not the only great country. The US does some things better than any other, however, too many Americans are oblivious to the basic idea that citizens of almost every country in the world are also patriotic, proud of their accomplishments, and think their home is the "best" country in the world. Patriotism and pride are not American inventions. A crazy thought, huh.
The idea of exceptionalism is most dangerous is when it closes the minds of Americans to the possibility that there are also other great countries in the world, and that some of them do certain things better and are worth learning from. The Canadian economy survived the 2008 recession far better than the American one, yet no American politician would dare point out that its more strictly regulated banking system was worth emulating - Canucks are too socialist, you know. Crime rates and gun deaths in the US are staggeringly high compared to those of any other modern Western nation, yet Americans still stubbornly insist that slack gun laws, capital punishment and a massive corporate prison system are the key to keeping citizens safe, when all available statistics clearly show this is not the case.
The US has long been an economic leader in many ways, but the rest of the world hasn't been sitting still, moaning around in choleric mud huts fervently wishing they were Americans. No, they've been learning, changing, adapting, and working hard. Americans still write off China as a bunch of commie peasants, but over the past few decades they've taken capitalism and run with it. Pretending otherwise doesn't make it go away. Taking past success for granted and writing off the rest of the world as a mere third-world wasteland of poor potential immigrants that merely want to get into the US ignores reality and does not bode well for the future.
Also, based on the comments in this thread and other similar ones, the education system in the US is in a sad state. I It is frightening that so many Americans cannot piece together one or two coherant grammatically correct sentences in their own native language. In the meantime, the Chinese and others countries these same patriots Americans often deride are busy learning to switch fluently between numerous languages and dialects. Wake up.
So much is wrong with what you just said.Chinese do not educate all of their children as does the U.S. Every child gets an education no matter how poor or how mentally or physically incapable.Canada has banking laws that prevented the Banking problem in investment,however Canada has many problems like polluting the Great lakes and causing more females than males to be born from pollution of Chemicals,high amount of personal debts,low amounts of savings,I could really go on but I like Canada,I don't like articles and people like you trying to cause conflicts.Canada is a great country and is exceptional in different ways than America is exceptional.
I travel to the states a lot. My parents have a country house in VT and a place in Miami. I love the states. Its a beautiful and diverse country. But as the years have gone by, i believe Americans are being blinded by the "american dream" that was put forth for so long. Itdoesnt exist. Also, the states is a good country, but like all things, its not the only good thing om this planet. Having family all over the world, and having traveled myself all over the world, a lot of people find americans egocentric. Not everytging ametican is necessarily better.... More and more, i know people who are "boycottibg" the states, refusing to travel there and not buying american made products... And i can understand them... I find its too bad, i love the US of A but i cry for this country. America needs to clean up, and look at herself in all her greatness AND faults. Its ok if ur not perfect. No one expects you to.
You know, today i went to hannaford and i asked the guy for beets. He had thrown them away earlier causethe leaves were wilting. The beets were perfectly fine. He tells me people dont buy em when the leaves are limp. With an economic crissis, more and more people on food stamps, shanty towns, poverty,..... I mean what the hell?!?! This is just one tiny example of what is wrong with america today.
Americans as a rule are very wasteful. I'll give you that for sure.
Could have fooled me. If I look at an American whale I figure Americans eat everything that is not tied down. he-he!
what american made products lol, we barely make anything except vegetables
I though they came from South America?
There are still a few things America makes, for someone like me who like to can, mason jars are usually made in usa. There is always a few odds and ends. Think cars. An iPod is made in china or wherever but it is American.....dell, hp,.... I should of said fthey boycott the american brand.
The country has become too intoxicated with the techno revolution. People know how to use an Ipod and IPad but they have no idea how to make government work or even balance a checkbook.
Mental atrophy seems to be in vogue in the U.S. right now. I hope we find a way out. Sincerely.
They'll make good factory workers.
In a society where the main objective is to cater to the lowest denominator being exceptional is frowned upon.
Yes America is still exceptional, but hot battles are raging to undo that.
What is this idea that everyone wants to go to America and become American? If you're Bangladeshi, Filipino, or any other citizen coming from a dump of a country, yeah sure. But these people would gladly immigrate to Canada, Australia or any other country that would have them. Ask almost any European or East Asian if they want to go to America and become American and you'll get laughed at.
It's easier and cheaper to get into Canada,Britain,or Europe as a whole.Canada I believe is the cheapest and they even have travel agencies willing to help professionals to get citizenship.Plus some parts of Canada allow Polygamy.So yea go there it is way better in Canada.
Besides the best Europe has to offer already left that dump and their offspring are now living in the Americas.
Europeans left Europe because of the promise of getting land for free.
Lemme tell you something, if you think the job situation is bad in the U.S. you should go try Europe...
I would like to hear the conclusions about the exceptionalism of the United States from its unhappy citizens only after they spend some time in the countries to the south.You should all be proud of your outstanding country and also the best president any country has ever had .Open your eyes.
ROTFLMAO!!!!!!
.
Finally, some truth...CNN's finally doing it's job.
America is still exceptionally ignorant. The education scores and studies that show 45% of Americans believe the bible is 100% true proves it. USA! USA! USA!
I don't understand how people can live in a country like the USA which doesn't have a free healthcare system.
In New Zealand I can break every bone in my body , get millions of dollars worth of hospital care and not have to pay a cent.
In the States it seems like average people live one serious accident away from bankruptcy. If this is true I'd visit but I would not want to live there.
Sad to say, there comes a point where it's better to die than to get sick in the USA.
Obama is trying to establish universal health care, the Republicans are doing everything in their power to stop it
You enlightened folks do realize some of the most patriotic Americans throughout history have questioned our 'exceptionalism' right? Even right leaning political historians.
Take the time to read this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexis_de_Tocqueville
If we don't know history, we are cannot live in the present.
There are many exceptional countries in the world – one of which is the neighbour to the north of the USA. America is a pretty damn fine country as well. However – let's not take for granted what we and our ancestors have built. Time to do a rethink of our priorities.... starting at home before trying to fix a broken world. I know it's more complicated than that simple take but I know we're kind of burnt out and need to take care of our own before there is nothing left for tomorrow.
STILL exceptional? Comon. This kind of elitist thinking is something we should have grown out of by now. We are no better, and no worse, then anyone else. Our people arent smarter, or braver, or more worthy. People are people around the world, and we need to start thinking globally, not nationally.
All great powers had a run of almost three tp four hundred years – Greek, Roman. Britsih,
American exceptionalism time is almost UP – Next in Line China – growing very fast – biggest army in the world
getting into space as well
btw Indian and Chinese civilisations have been around for more than two three thousand years and perhaps will
be around for a long time to come
You comment as if Nations take turns and the Chinese, a Nation that genocides segments of it own population? The real question is should we allow political jerks, Democrats or Republicans, declare US exceptionalism? What we have done in the past is not a predictor of the future so my advice is tell politicians to shut up and when they do exceptional things the world will know. And again China is a Dictatorship. It will be a long time before they do something exceptional Now the Indians, they are a different story. Indians have real potential to do good.
Indians have always done good and have stayed neutral in world affairs. America once dumped India in favor of China to contain the USSR, Nixon used Pakistan to get to China under the so called Ping Pong Diplomacy. This led to India aligning with the USSR. That was an error on the part of the USA, it made the US sleep with the enemy and are still paying the price and continue to be fooled by Pakistan. This may come to an end soon and the US and India as leading democracies will find more common ground. As for US being exceptional. This is ego-centric nonsense. The US has potential to be a great and benevolent leader of the world, but for the greed of the Republicans and their Ignorance and their Religion and Bigotry !! God bless America !! Why should God bless America ?
Yes, we are exceptional. Whether we are number one though, is up for debate.
As an urban Indian I like America. Sure they had their share of ups & downs but over all they are better than any other power. Russia is being managed like Putin's fiefdom. China is perpetually shrouded with mystery. They are a nation that can do anything for resources and money. India is probably too big for any European nation. So where does that leave us? India & US are def. natural allies.
How is India going to help the U.S., by stealing jobs from American citizens?
Yes , yes and yes. America is innovative, smart inventor, technologically brilliant BUT idiosyncratic American Congress in the last decade, and recently, have completely destroyed America's exceptionality. The world now views America negatively, after that debt ceiling circus show by Senate Congress – which really shocked and woke up a nervous global audience.
I would say America itself is much like its government: it's the worst country in the world, except for all the others. We are probably far too arrogant, certainly when it comes to playing World Police, but we are probably also the best ones for the job, given that we don't actively try to kill anyone unless they attack us first. We also do send a lot of money to impoverished nations.
Concerning France... we wouldn't exist without them (American Revolution), and they wouldn't exist without us (World War II). So we both really need to get over who is more important. The two of us, together with Britain, basically started the modern model of a democratic Republic, so let's all pat ourselves on the back and call ourselves a team instead of being concerned with who is currently the bench warmer.
So when did Iraq tried to attack America?
The French were our enemies in 1754
This is garbage. This hippy should go live in a few other countries for a bit. He would then see what is so exceptional about the US.
Hamburgers are humongous?
Anyone else find it hilarious that this article appears on CNN's front page a few stories away from coverage of a couple copulating while skydiving?
There is nothing CNN prints that surprises me anymore. Ted Turner has no say in what gets printed by the way.
Amercia soon will be obsolete,power shifting to china india and brazil,no surprise
Unfortunately, America is clearly a corrupt country that is in serious decline. Our politicians are bought and paid for - all of them - both parties. It's no wonder there's no actual difference in the actions of democrats and republicans anymore. Sure, they SAY different things, but they don't actually DO different things. Why? Because they're owned and controlled by big money special interests. And these deep pocket special interests aren't stupid. They bribe both the democrats and the republicans with campaign contributions and lobbyist money. A great society cannot flourish while basic fairness declines and income differences increase.
Unless and until we fix the corruption, there's no hope for our future. The corruption in America has reached third world proportions. Other countries are looking more appealing every day. Some will say, 'If you don't like it, go ahead and leave!' To that I say, if that happens you won't like or recognize the country you're left with.
Join Occupy Wall Street!
Get a haircut, Clark.
The people of every country think that they are exceptional. Most Brazilians, for example, truly believe, without a shadow of a doubt, that they:
1) Are the most friendly people in the entire world.
2) Have the most beautiful women, beaches, and resorts.
3) Are the world's happiest people.
4) Know how to live, and are proud of having over 60 vacation days per year (including carnival and holidays).
5) Are the world's best drivers.
6) Have the world's worst politicians.
7) Are immune to bombs and wars (after all, everybody should love them).
8) Have the world's most intellectual musicians and writers.
9) Know more, than other nations, about the culture of every country.
10) Have some of the world's best soccer players and martial arts fighters.
I'm half Brazilian, half U.S. person. I have been to some other countries too. Now, even though I believe that there's some truth to a few of those things that I listed, this is what I have learned: Exaggerated patriotism is, in every country, a thing of the ignorant and, very often, of the poor.
Each country has things that are somewhat exceptional. But freedom, justice, and peace are not attributes that belong to the United States alone. That's ridiculous. The media and entertainment business in the U.S. has tried to "copyright" those things as American values for decades.
America is Under Siege – And no one gives a D A M!
America is Under Siege? You mean that Hollywood is trotting out Steven Seagal for another kick the bad guys in the nuts and then the head movie?
He also said DAM. Perhaps he's referring to Jean Claude Van Damme?
As someone born and raised in France I was brainwashed like everyone else into believing that nonsense, so the kind of anti-American hackery that this article exemplifies makes my blood boil.
I think the worst possible sin is to compare America to France by implying that France's imaginary exceptionalism is based on deeds rather than usurpation and empty posturing. That is such a false moral equivalency that only a staunch America hater wouldn't see the absurdity.
I'll use a simple analogy: America is like an all-around good guy who's not perfect. Treats his wife with respect. Sometimes though, they fight. Although rare, it can happen that things get so heated that the fight turns physical and Mrs America ends up with a black eye. After that happens though, Mr America apologizes profusely, does everything he can to make up for his lapse in judgement, makes a donation to an association that fights against domestic abuse, volunteers to go to couples therapy, makes speeches to raise awareness and takes any measure he can think of to make sure that it never happens again.
France, on the other hand, is like a sadistic and sneaky little guy with an inferiority complex. He enjoys beating up his wife because he always gets away with it. In order to conceal his nature and protect his vicious habit, he spends his time peeking over the fence and looking at what's going on in his neighbors' homes. Whenever he sees trouble, he gives his unwarranted advice and sanctimoniously lectures the husband on his duty to treat his wife with respect. Then, although he doesn't donate anything to organizations that fight against domestic abuse, he adminishes his entire neighborhood for not doing enough. He also makes up a fantasy version of the way he's running his household and chides his neighbors for not emulating his fake 'virtuousness'.
Yes, America is led by human beings, and human beings make mistakes. America revolutionized the way a major power interacts with the world: doing good to herself by doing good to others, as opposed to the previous rule, doing good to one's country by mass murdering, pillaging, enslaving others. When you judge America based on its record, rather than other countries' propaganda, you come to the clear realization that yes, America is exceptional. Other countries might have taken to emulate her and some of them, like the UK, have done a tremendous job, but America is still the example to follow, and without her, the rest of the 'civilized' world would return to the barbaric instincts that were the rule before America came along.
All that just to tell us Americans are passive-aggressive pusssies and the French are sanctimonious little basturds.
Tell us what we don't already know.
The U.S. is at this time the most powerful country in the world. That does not make it exceptional. Other nations have held this position in the past. "Exceptional" is a superlative a lot of countries love to give to themselves and tell their citizens. No doubt people in other nations are thinking of themselves as exceptional right now. The U.S. is not alone in falling for this type of conceit.
Excellent article.
As individuals we are all unique and exceptional. It is pride that is not unique or exceptional, and like an emotion, it is intrinsic to human nature and we all own it. And like love, it can motivate us to commit the most generous and selfless acts. But like hatred, it can be pitted against anyone or anything. So, feel free to be individual and exceptional as much as you wish, but always respect everyone's pride and use yours wisely.
I tend to agree with the article. While I am proud to be an American, and proud of our history, only a fool would think that somehow by being randomly born in this country you are blessed with an innate goodness. I think for the most part, people here are good hearted, genuine, and giving. Unfortunately they can also be incredibly reactionary and hostile to things/people that they dont understand.
Fear of the unknown makes people hostile.
I've been living abroad for 7 years and don't miss the You Owe Me phenomenon becoming so apparent in today's society. Every time I visit home it's worse.
"My government owes me. My company owes me. My customer owes me. My society owes me. I'm not responsible for anything I do. The economy is crashing because of other people. The other side of the political isle is the recipient of my utter hatred. The Department of Education is ruining my kids."
the list goes on...
Hi all, I`d like to state my opinion. Been working all around the world for almost 30 years now. Including the USA, Europe Asia, little bit of Africa. When the job is done, in the evenings, one sits down with the "colleagues" from the host country over a beer ans talks. Sooner or later, the subject is politics and how they impact on peoples lives. and where ever I go,
people with half a brain agree with me: Some of the finest individuals that I know are US-Americans and I`m proud to call them friends. But the politics appear totally corrupt. Us policy: there`s a script being acted out. and that script was written in Jerusalem. I know you will call me a jew hater or what ever, I dont care. It`s the reality, that level headed people all over the world see, wether you like it or not. I feel deeply sorry for my friends in the USA, they are the modern slaves. Slaves to Israel. US tax dollards going to Israel 7 million per day. How many schools, how many childcare centers, how many dental treatments could be paid for with that money...... But the US media (and thus public opinion) is firmly controlled by hebrews suckering US americans into believing that this money is actually benefitting the US
because Israel is the "only Democracy" in the MIddle East. What a load of bull..... This unconditional support for the opressive regime in Israel made the good people of the USA the most hated people of the world. As I said, I feel sorry for them, they don`t deserve this. But the true President (AIPAC) will keep things, the way they are........
Gorm, I have no doubt that you are a what we often refer to as "a man of the world" and that you work very hard giving due respect where it is deserved. The world certainly has it's problems and we all know they're not going to disappear anytime soon, certainly not in a humanitarian way anyhow. But the only upside I can see in all this is that many countries are fortunate enough be avoiding the more violent atrocities we see in the middle east. And don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to downplay anything anywhere else, because there's almost always something happening somewhere, and the actions of our governments are always highly questionable regardless. But if this might be the cost of keeping all this nonsense in the middle east, I'ld rather it there than here. Not that it's right either way, nor that I can remotely trust much of it, but many are not just losing money or their livelihood, they're losing their lives or their loved ones. And by the looks of it, we are given no choice other than pray to stop and pay to avoid it.
RZ, thank s for your honest comment. I respect your opinion, yet I dont share it. Here`s why: you say the money you pay to Israel, keeps violence somewhat contained in the Middle East and thus you`re somewhat safe. I disagree, I think your money makes many of these atrocities possible in the first place. Without US money, there wouldn`t be this this totally unviable state of Israel and Jews and Arabs would (have to) just live side by side as they`ve done for millenia. But Israel`s greed, combined with ideas of religeous and racial superiority, trying to dominate the area and it`s people
creates an awful lot of very desperate and very furious individuals that see the US as the financier of Israels racist and oppressive policies. Wait, til Israel sends you to attack Iran, and you`ll have a lot more. And like you, my friend RZ in your last sentence, there are over 250 million US-americans, saying simultaneously:" But what can one man do ?"
It`s something that puzzles me (and many people around the world that I`ve spoken to): one mentions Israel, and US-americans turn silent. These fantastic people, that used to stand for equality, justice, fairness towards everybody have completely lost their ability to see the giant injustice commited by Israel. Your (Israel-controlled) media has done a hell of a job there. Try reading Mearsheimer & Walt, an eye opener. And then RZ, how safe are you ? I despise the atrocities of 9/11, but what is the bottom line of these acts of terror ? The policies in and around the Middle east has left a lot of people desperate, furiuos and hopeless & misguided enough to not value their own lives any more, having just the desire to end their lives and for one last time, strike back at what they see as the evil power enabling Israel to it`s thing in THEIR countries, to THEIR families, to THEIR fellow worshippers. I dont think the money you pay to Israel makes you any safer, nor is it Israel fighting evil people on your behalf before they reach the US, keeping them at bay, on the contrary: without Israel`s actions, there wouldn`t be this amount of dangerous people in this world. As I said before, the people in the US dont deserve this, 9/11 was the perfect example of someone trying to hit US policies, but strikes at ordinary people. And sadly, it`s these policies that make the USA exceptional................
American leaders have been lying to the rest of the world.
It has resulting in americans living a lie at the expense of the rest of the world
American wealth,innovation and warfaring nature has been created at the expense of the rest of the world
Broken banks,broken leaders,broken infrastructure.
Gluttony,waste,perversions,pollution and materialism next to none.
Do not blame the world. Blame yourselves.
American need to lower their "standard of living"..
That was very well put. Thank you, jesus.
Now Daniel Yeshua was exceptional, even Thomas Jefferson said the ethics and morals of Jesus are the best he had ever seen. Pretty good endorsement I would say!
That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard, Jee.......
All this bla-bla-bla about America's being "exceptional" is just a right-wing myth. The same claim was made about Germany in the 1930's by Adolf Hitler and the Nazis, too. Despite all our of arrogance and self-righteousness, we have no right to be in Afghanistan or Iraq. The sooner we realize that simple fact, the better!
I kissed my way up to VP at a health insurance company. Now I take over $500,000 of your health care dollars for NO VALUE ADDED to your health care. And that’s just me. Now think about how many other VPs, Directors, Managers, etc. are at my company alone. Now multiply that by thousands of others at hundreds of other health insurance companies. From 10 to 25% of your health care dollars go towards administration that adds NO VALUE to your health care. But my company’s PAC dollars will continue to fool you little people into thinking that a single payer system will be bad. Little people like you are so easy to fool. Little people also don’t realize that a single payer system is the ONLY system that would allow little people (as an entire country) to negotiate better health care prices. Little people don’t realize that the Medical Cartels already know that. And that is the reason why the Medical Cartels spend so much PAC money from the hospitals and doctors lobbying against a single payer system. Some little people say that a single payer system would cost you little people more. But if that were true, then wouldn’t the hospitals and doctors WANT that extra money? Yes they would. So why do the Medical Cartels lobby against a single payer system? It’s because the Medical Cartels know it would allow little people to negotiate better health care prices. And that’s what the Medical Cartels are afraid of. Period.
But us big wigs at insurance companies, hospitals, and pharmacy companies don’t ever need to worry about health care no matter what it costs. We get our health care paid for one way or another by you little people. And we get the little people that work at our companies to contribute to our PACs. And us big wigs say it’s to protect the little peoples’ jobs. But in reality it would be in the little peoples’ best interest to NOT contribute to the PAC. Again, little people are so easy to be fooled. I won’t ever have to worry about losing my job with so many little people being brain washed by the Medical Cartels’ PAC money. Not only that, the Medical Cartels’ PAC money is used to elect so many republicans that will never allow a single payer system. Republicans have always fought against any meaningful health care reform. But that’s what our Medical Cartels’ PACs pay them for. Politicians can be bought so easily.
Pretty soon the only people that will be able to afford health care is us big wigs. And that’s the way it should be. We don’t want you little people using up the resources when we need them. And once again, I thank you little people for capping my SS tax at the $106,800 level. Now I only pay 1.3% SS tax and you little people pay 6.2%. Also, thank you for extending my tax breaks. I’m using the extra money on my vacation houses.
Thanks for taking the time and explaining how "exceptional" all this is !! This same set up is seen in energy, food, transportation etc, you name it ! The exploitation of little people is "exceptional ! " Little people must unite and pool their little brains and fight the system of exploitation that is going on. We need a revolution in thinking and legal action against these criminals.
God bless you, Timmy! Now go out and stimulate the economy with some of that money you're making!
Build a McMansion in Algore's neighborhood.
Exceptionalism could be described as bragging, maybe a bit like Howard Cosell who use to drive Dandy Don Meredith nuts. As far as I am concerned this Nation would be better off if the GOP stuffs it on this one. I have seldom seen a politician I would call exceptional other than Dwight Eisenhower. So what do Republicans know about this subject? Yes I think Historical this Nation has made some very good calls, but the present will be judged later so in behalf of Dandy Don let me say "Stuff It Howard" your mouth is overrun your abilities again!
I don't know who originally came up with the term "American exceptionalism", but its a terrible way to designate
American characteristics. Its terribly arrogant to use that term to describe Americans.
i'm sorry but this constant propoganda feed is beyond believe. america, completely on its own? while dragging the still backward and barbaric Europeans behind, created a Lockean world? this is absolute clap-trap. while WW2 was still raging, around 1942/43 Churchill etc were having meetings discussing what to do about creating a more unified Europe to ensure that war didn't break out again. the propaganda you read by leading academics in the U.S is so unbelievable. if you only read them, which i'm guessing you would if you went to Uni' there, you would honestly believe that WW2 ended and we all over here in Europe were then left scratching our heads, confused and ready to go back to the old way of re-arming, tryibng to balance against each other. until along comes the enlightened Americans to explain how to not do.
daft really
yesterday on our way back from the church, my young son asked, Dad, is God think we are good persons? I don't think so I said, because we are not living in the right contry, you know my son, I said, it's look like God bless only the u.s. citizens, but I am shure i said you will be able to live your life happy with out that.My wife and I still laffing since then.
Why is it that the only time this question arises is when America is dominated by a liberal administration?
I thought we were in the age of hope and change. I haven't seen this much malaise, hopelessness and discontent since Jimmy Carter.
Is it 2012 yet?
YES
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في مفاجأة مذهلة وغير متوقعة قررت الحكومة الإيرانية بإيران نشر بيوت الزواج المؤقت أو ما يعرف باسم زواج المتعة ليوم واحد، في الشوارع والأحياء، بحجة القضاء على مشكلة الاغتصاب المنتشرة بكثرة بإيران والكبت الجنسي الذي يعاني منه الشباب الإيراني، في دولة تبيح ممارسة الجنس مع أي فتاة، تحت ذرائع دينية وتحت هذه الذريعة، سيكون بإمكان أي إيراني ارتياد هذه البيوت، لممارسة الجنس مع فتاة تقدم هذه الخدمة لأي شاب يقرع بابها، بحجة أن الدين يبيح هذه الممارسات، والتي يطلق عليها صفة الزواج لدى الشيعة.
وتداولت مصادر إعلامية عن قوى الأمن الداخلي قولها إنها ستوسع نطاق ما يعرف في إيران بمراكز أو بيوت العفاف!!!؟؟ بهدف تقليص الاغتصابات وحل معضلة العلاقات الجنسية غير المشروعة وأكد تقرير رسمي للحكومة أنها مقتنعة بضرورة إشاعة الزواج المؤقت أو ما يعرف بزواج المتعة، لحل هذه الأزمة، وأنها مستعدة لإيجاد مراكز خاصة في هذا المجال.
فيما سمحت الحكومة للعديد من المكاتب ومواقع الإنترنت بنشاط يدخل في مجال تعارف النساء والرجال والبحث عن زوج أو زوجة، والزواج المؤقت حتى أن إعلاناً نشر في موقع رسمي يعلن عن تقديم مراكز دينية في مدن قم ومشهد وطهران لتأمين البنات للرجال الراغبين في الزواج المؤقت ويبلغ سعر الليلة الواحدة ما بين 50 إلى 100 دولار ويكون نصف الربح للمراكز الدينية الشيعية.
ونقلت صحيفة القبس ، عن الحكومة قولها إنها تهدف إلى تقليص حالات الكبت الجنسي لدى الشباب والإقلال من حالات الاغتصاب، وإن كل من يريد أن يقوم بالعمل الجنسي يستطيع الذهاب إلى بيوت العفاف ومشيرة إلى أن مثل هذه البيوت أو المراكز كانت موجودة في عهد الشاه السابق، لكن بعد الثورة تمت إزالتها لأنها مراكز فساد وانحطاط، إلا أن هاشمي رفسنجاني كان أول من طرح فكرة إيجاد بيوت العفاف أو مراكز الزواج المؤقت وذلك عام 1991 ولكن في الواقع تحولت هذه البيوت وفقاً لاعتراف أركان النظام إلى مراكز لفساد المسؤولين، إذ استولوا عليها وصاروا يلعبون بخلق الله كيفما يشاءون.
ولم يسمح النظام علنا باستمرار بيوت العفاف في عهد حكومة خاتمي ولا في الأعوام السابقة، حيث ظل هذا النشاط سرياً وعلى مستوى الشوارع أو البيوت الخاصة غير المرخص لها.
وأضافت الصحيفة أن هذه البيوت باتت مرتعاً لنزوات وشهوات المسؤولين وبعض رجال الدين الشيعة الذين لا يكتفون، عادة، حتى بأربع نساء حسب الشرع الإسلامي.
والغريب أن ويدعو النائب علي مطهري إلى تطبيق هذا المشروع بشكل واسع النطاق حتى في المدارس الثانوية والجامعات على غرار الحرية الجنسية المتاحة في المجتمعات الغربيةويتساءل البعض ترى هل يرضى رفسنجاني أو أي مرجع دين أو مسؤول كبير يدافع عن هذا المشروع أن يرسل إحدى بناتهم إلى بيوت العفاف لممارسة المتعة معها من قبل عشرات الشباب يومياً، أم أن هؤلاء ينصحون الناس فقط بإرسال بناتهم إلى بيوت العفاف لكي يمارسوا هم الجنس معهن لإرضاء رغباتهم؟.
الأثنين 12 ديسمبر 2011
قل... ولا تقل...
الكاتب: عبد الله الدليمي (*) :: خاص بالقادسية
قل: (الدين الشيعي)... ولا تقل: (الطائفة الشيعية)
فالتشيع دين معادٍ للإسلام ويعمل على تقويضه من الداخل، سلاحه في ذلك النفاق الذي ينطلي على الكثير من أهل السنة "الطيبين". ومخطئ من يظن أن ما بيننا وبينهم مجرد اختلافات ثانوية في الفروع دون الأصول. فأركان الإسلام عندهم غيرها عندنا: صلاتهم غير صلاتنا، وصومهم ليس كصومنا (من حيث التوقيت وبعض التفاصيل الأخرى)، وزكاتهم لا تشبه زكاتنا، وهكذا بالنسبة للحج. أما بالنسبة للقرآن الذي هو دستور المسلمين فهو محرف بزعمهم. بل حتى أعيادنا لا يشتركون معنا فيها. وقل الشيء عينه عن المناسبات التاريخية الإسلامية، فما يسرنا منها يسوؤهم وما يسوؤنا يسرهم. ورموز الإسلام الذين نجلهم يلعنهم الشيعة ويسبونهم، والمصائب التي ألمت بالأمة الإسلامية كمقتل سيدينا عمر وعثمان – رضي الله عنهما- يتخذون من تواريخها أعيادا يجددون فيها أفراحهم – وهذا ما لم يفعله اليهود ولا النصارى.
ويكفي الشيعة بعدا عن الإسلام ابتداعهم ركنا جديدا لم ينزل به الله من سلطان، وهو "الإمامة" التي تلزم – بزعمهم- الاعتقاد بولاية علي (رضي الله عنه) وأحقيته في الخلافة وتكفير من يقدم الخلفاء الثلاثة (رضي الله عنهم) عليه. وحسب هذا الركن المخترع، فإن جميع أهل السنة كفار- ما يفسر إيغالهم في دمائنا وأعراضنا ومقدراتنا في العراق وغيره.
وهنا أهيب بكل سني يرجو من الشيعة خيرا أو يعول على شراكتهم في الوطن أن يعيد النظر في ظنه بهم، وأن يسترشد بمصادرنا ومصادرهم والتاريخ – قديمه وحديثه- ليدرك حقيقة الدين الشيعي.
ولمن لا يزال يتغنى بـالشعار الزائف: "إخوان سنة وشيعة... هذا الوطن منبيعه"، أقول: أزل الغطاء عن قلبك وعينيك لتدرك بأن الحقيقة هي: "دينان سنة وشيعة... صار الوطن للشيعة".
قل: (حكومة أحزاب شيعية)... ولا تقل: (حكومة وحدة وطنية)
يصر الشيعة على إضفاء صفة "الوطنية" على حكومة بغداد الإقصائية الاجتثاثية، ويزعمون بأنها تمثل كافة أطياف الشعب العراقي. وهذا محض افتراء لا يصمد أمام حقيقة كون حكومتهم حكومة إيرانية بامتياز. أما الساسة السنة المشتركون في الحكومة فلا يشكلون سوى "ديكور" لإيهام الرأي العام في العراق وخارجه بأن الحكومة تمثل العراقيين على اختلاف مسمياتهم وانتماءاتهم. فأعضاء الحكومة من السنة هم إما مجردون من الصلاحيات أو مضمونو الولاء للمالكي والأحزاب الموالية له.
وهنا أود أن أهمس في أذن السياسيين السنة المشاركين في الحكومة: إما أن تفضي مشاركتكم في الحكومة إلى درء مفاسد أو جلب منافع لأهل السنة، وتكون لكم صلاحياتكم واستحقاقاتكم الحقيقية كاملة دون نقصان... أو الانحياز إلى مقاومة سنية بشتى الوسائل حتى نأخذ حقوقنا بأيدينا، فالحقوق تنتزع ولا تمنح. ومن ليس لديه قوة لا مكان له في عالم السياسة.
قل: (الدين أولا)... ولا تقل: (الوطن أولا)
حب الوطن والحرص عليه أمر فطري، لكن يجب ألا يقدم على الدين الذي يفترض أن يكون على رأس أولويات المسلم الحقيقي. ولا تعارض – في الوضع الطبيعي – بين العمل للوطن والعمل للدين.
أما في حالة العراق اليوم، فالوضع غير طبيعي، حيث وضع الشيعة أهل السنة أمام مفترق طرق ليختاروا بين أمرين لا ثالث لهما: توحيد الله أو توحيد التراب. وانقسم أهل السنة بين هذين المفترقين، فالعلمانيون والقوميون والبعثيون آثروا وحدة التراب على وحدانية الله، فلم يجنوا أيا منهما. أما المسلمون الواعون والمدركون أن الدين هو المقدم على كل ما سواه (وفي مقدمتهم جنود القادسية العاملين في هذا الموقع المبارك)، فقد آثروا عقيدتهم على التراب الذي يجمعهم بأعداء الله وأعدائهم، فأخذوا على عاتقهم العمل من أجل الحفاظ على الدين والأرواح والكرامة لأهل السنة الذين أصبحوا هدفا للحقد الرافضي الدفين.
وقد نتفهم تقديم العلمانيين للوطن على الدين لأنهم أصلا لا يأبهون بالدين وتعاليمه ولا يقدمون أنفسهم على أنهم مسلمون، لكن أنّى لنا أن نفهم تقديم نخبة من "علماء المسلمين" لحدود سايكس- بيكو على العقيدة التي هي أغلى ما لدينا والتي نتعرض من أجلها لحملة شرسة من قبل الحكومة الشيعية لسلخنا منها؟
قل: (تخريب) ولا تقل: (تقريب)
والكلام هنا موجه لمن يدعون إلى "التقريب" بين السنة والشيعة – استنادا إلى اعتبار الشيعة – خطأ – مذهبا من المذاهب الإسلامية كالمذهب الحنفي والشافعي والحنبلي والمالكي. وهذا استناد ينطوي على أحد أمرين: إما جهل بكلا الدينين السني والشيعي، وإما نية خبيثة تريد إلباس الحق بالباطل.
إن الداعين إلى هذا "التقريب" يغفلون عن حقيقة أن الشيعي لا يكون شيعيا ما لم يؤمن بإمامة علي – رضي الله عنه – دون غيره... تلك الخرافة التي اخترعتها أهواؤهم وكفرونا على أساسها. ولا أدري كيف يكفروننا ويستحلون دماءنا وأموالنا ويعيثون في أرضنا فسادا، ولا يزال منا من يحسن الظن بهم ويرتجي معهم تقاربا هو أقرب إلى التقارب بين الدر والبعر!
ومن هنا أدعو علماءنا من أهل الفتوى – مجامع فقهية وأفرادا- إلى تحمل مسؤوليتهم في بيان حكم الشيعة بفتوى صريحة لا مواربة فيها كما فعل أسلافنا مالك وأحمد وابن تيمية والقاضي عياض والأسفراييني وغيرهم. فلا يكفي القول بكفر علمائهم والتوقف في عوامهم حتى تقام عليهم الحجة. وإن كان علماؤهم كفارا فكيف يسمح لهم بدخول بيت الله الحرام الذي لا يحل لكافر دخوله؟ وإن كان لا بد من إقامة الحجة على عوامهم قبل الحكم عليهم، فأين جهود إقامة الحجة عليهم؟ وهل يصح ترك الأمر معلقا هكذا ليكون الفرق بين المسلم والكافر عائما كل هذه الفترة؟
إن التفريق بين علماء الشيعة وعوامهم في الحكم غير مجدٍ وليس منطقيا، فلولا عوام الشيعة ما ساد معمموهم وسياسيوهم الذين يتبادلون أدوار الإجرام بحقنا بشكل متناغم. لذلك يجب العمل على إقامة الحجة عليهم لوضع النقاط على الحروف بما هو متاح من وسائل كالقنوات الفضائية ومواقع الإنترنت وسائر وسائل الإعلام، ولا بأس أن يستغرق ذلك سنة كاملة مثلا ليختار بعدها هؤلاء العوام إما اتباع معمميهم الذين ثبت لدينا كفرهم، وإما اتباع الدين الحق لنميز المسلم من الكافر ونضع حدا لهذا التمييع.
فعوام الشيعة يقلدون معمميهم ويسوقون لهم، ويأتمرون بأمرهم فيحرمون ما أحل الله ويحلون ما حرم الله من خلال:
- الإفطار في رمضان يوم يصوم المسلمون، والصوم يوم يفطرون.
- تأخير العيدين ليوم أو يومين مخالفة للمسلمين (للتوافق مع ماما إيران).
- منح أصواتهم الانتخابية لجلاديهم ليصلوا إلى مناصب حكومية يقومون من خلالها "بواجبهم" في ذبحنا على الطريقة "المجوسية".
- دفع الأموال كنذور وأتاوات (خمس) لتماسيحهم وأفاعيهم المعممة ليسخروها في محاربة الإسلام والمسلمين ونشر دينهم المجوسي.
- تقديم نسائهم وبناتهم فرائس لمعمميهم لممارسة الزنى باسم المتعة، وبالتالي نشر الأيدز وسائر الأمراض الصحية والاجتماعية.
- العمل كقطعان في مواكب اللطم والتطبير والتجمعات التي يؤججون فيها أحقادهم وثاراتهم ضدنا، ويسبون فيها رموزنا الذين أثنى عليهم الله في كتابه.
- تشكيل المليشيات الإجرامية كجيش المهدي وفيلق بدر وغيرهما لقتل أهل السنة وهدم مساجدهم.
هذا غيض من فيض من شرور القوم – عوامهم وخواصهم – ولا أدري ما الذي ينتظره علماؤنا؟ وكم من الضحايا علينا أن نقدم أكثر لجلادي الشيعة لكي يقتنعوا بوضع حد لهذا التمييع الذي طال أمده!
Look at all you people. You know instead of bickering over which country is better, who has the best this or that, why aren't we doing something to improve every ones situation? Look, the whole world is in a downward spiral at this point. I keep seeing Americans are this or that but as you have shown quite clearly, so are you. How about this...how about we all stop acting like little children and pointing fingers at each other and grow up and do something about it. The world is packed full of good and bad people, but right now we all need to stand up and get our own heads on right, stop this temper tantrum and help each other. The people who are in power have brain washed us all to hate one another and blame one another instead of working together and that's what caused this whole mess! So, yeah go on blame each other for your issues instead of just doing something about it...yeah that makes a whole lot of sense. Wake up world it's time to stop dreaming, we all live here and this is our only place to live. So if you could stop whining about crap and try to just make a change for the better we all win! Wow, the whole world has literally lost it's global mind...