What do you think of the idea of "American Exceptionalism"?

Question

This is the idea that our country has a special obligation to spread our values of freedom around the world, and we must confront other countries who prevent that, either militarily or politically.

I guess the alternative would be that our country has no obligation to do anything except have a foreign policy that is acceptable to most Americans, i.e. democracy.

More civilians have been killed in Iraq than in Darfur. So much for the benefits of "intervention".

Answer 1

It's a nice idea, but bunk. The "obligation to spread freedom" really means the attempts of expanding military and economic power over others. The idea is also racist, implying that the Americans have the moral right to do so.

Take up the White Man's burden--
Send forth the best ye breed--
Go, bind your sons to exile
To serve your captives' need;
To wait, in heavy harness,
On fluttered folk and wild--
Your new-caught sullen peoples,
Half devil and half child.

Take up the White Man's burden--
In patience to abide,
To veil the threat of terror
And check the show of pride;
By open speech and simple,
An hundred times made plain,
To seek another's profit
And work another's gain.

Take up the White Man's burden--
The savage wars of peace--
Fill full the mouth of Famine,
And bid the sickness cease;
And when your goal is nearest
(The end for others sought)
Watch sloth and heathen folly
Bring all your hope to nought.

Take up the White Man's burden--
No iron rule of kings,
But toil of serf and sweeper--
The tale of common things.
The ports ye shall not enter,
The roads ye shall not tread,
Go, make them with your living
And mark them with your dead.

Take up the White Man's burden,
And reap his old reward--
The blame of those ye better
The hate of those ye guard--
The cry of hosts ye humour
(Ah, slowly!) toward the light:--
"Why brought ye us from bondage,
Our loved Egyptian night?"

Take up the White Man's burden--
Ye dare not stoop to less--
Nor call too loud on Freedom
To cloak your weariness.
By all ye will or whisper,
By all ye leave or do,
The silent sullen peoples
Shall weigh your God and you.

Take up the White Man's burden!
Have done with childish days--
The lightly-proffered laurel,
The easy ungrudged praise:
Comes now, to search your manhood
Through all the thankless years,
Cold, edged with dear-bought wisdom,
The judgment of your peers.

(Kipling)

Answer 2

Sure sounds a lot like the old British "White Man's Burden" to me, with different spin.

Why don't we bring our guys home and lead by example, instead?

I guess that puts me in 'the alternative' with an eye out for actual danger against our country.

Answer 3

The alternative for me.

Answer 4

Read about the effectiveness of Isolationism.

Democracy is not a foreign policy.

Answer 5

If we refused to ever intervene, then things like Darfur would happen. Oh wait, we have refused to intervene, so has the UN, and thousands die each day over there. So many people want us to "help" Africa and AIDs and hunger and all this. No one talks about genocide, but that needs to be stopped too!

Answer 6

I prefer the alternative.

Answer 7

I bet you are the same that wants us to go into Darfur?Little bit of hypocracy isn't?I guess we shouldnt have fought WWI and WWII?But if you like the idea of getting beheaded if you dont praise allah then more power to ya..,got your plane ticket for you if you would like to fly to Iraq.Oh by the way light bulb,more civilians have been killed by the terrorists not our guys.

Answer 8

Maybe you should pass the dube to someone else. All the smoke is getting in your eyes. Its not American Exceptionalism, its world domination. Bring it on!!