tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post6433178933835906217..comments2024-03-28T04:26:30.557-05:00Comments on Boston 1775: Making an Exception for ExceptionalismUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post-42988348042206061642014-10-10T17:12:23.543-05:002014-10-10T17:12:23.543-05:00There are plenty of Pam Mazanecs in the U.S., and ...There are plenty of Pam Mazanecs in the U.S., and many who have rightfully ridiculed her approach. In 1831 a Nova Scotia author gives this fictional account of a meeting between "Sam Slick" and a Bluenoser as they discuss America's place in the world:<br /><br />“The British can whip all the world, and we can whip the British. It’s near about the prettiest sight I know of, is one of our first-class frigates, manned with our free and enlightened citizens, all ready<br />for sea ; it is like the great American Eagle on its perch, balancing itself for a start on the broad expanse of blue sky, afeard of nothin’ of its kind, and president of all it surveys. It was a good emblem that we chose, warn’t it?” <br /><br />There was no evading so direct and at the same time so con-<br />ceited an appeal as this….”<br /><br />The U.S. is an awesome country. Let the facts come out.<br />Marknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post-57378149093365812842014-10-09T09:58:27.746-05:002014-10-09T09:58:27.746-05:00I like Lincoln's formulation that America is a...I like Lincoln's formulation that America is a "proposition," a continuous challenge to live up to our national ideals, rather than a proof. J. L. Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15405157000473731801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post-51777680777518798992014-10-09T09:31:13.816-05:002014-10-09T09:31:13.816-05:00I do feel lucky to have been born and to live in t...I do feel lucky to have been born and to live in the United States, but I think it is important to put "American Exceptionalism" into perspective. If you look throughout history many countries had empires and definitely felt they were exceptional...often calling other countries or regions "barbarians". Look at the ancient Greeks and Romans. Spanish & Portugues in the new world. Napoleonic France. British empire. These are just a few examples. Historically you can almost make a case for every country having some period in their history where they were a dominant force and major player in the world. The U.S. is a special county and I wouldn't to live anywhere else, but we shouldn't use terms like American Exceptionalism to mean that other countries haven't made significant contributions to world history.Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15203218972308325282noreply@blogger.com