Only in America.
Only in America, could a person rise to prominence despite all outward forces holding them back.
Only in America, could a nation proclaim such noble humanitarian values, and routinely ignore them.
Only in America, could the paragon of family-values hypocrisy, ride a wave of discontent to best another paragon of Corporate-elitism ... as Newt Gingrich has just skillfully cynically done.
And Newt's 'America first' battle cry going forward ?
Gingrich surges to big win in South Carolina
by Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times -- January 21, 2012
[...]
"We are going to argue American exceptionalism, the American Declaration of Independence, the American Constitution, the American Federalist Papers," Gingrich said as the crowd chanted, "U.S.A!"
Only in America, could Newt Gingrich's code-words papering over indignant rhetoric, be taken as acceptable, rational, political discourse ...
Beware of "American exceptionalism" my friends, because there is more power in those two words, than meets the eye ...
Up With Chris Hayes on MSNBC,
clipped to start at the 8:30 Time mark, 1st hour, Jan 22, 2012
Link to entire Video
David Stockman: But I do want to say a point about exceptionalism.
Chris Hayes: Because that was the key there.
David Stockman: The word is neo-con speak, code for an aggressive foreign policy. It's for more Bush, with even more aggressive intent. It's about beating the war drums in Iran. It's about keeping the military establishment -- which is vastly greater than we need -- fully in place. That's what exceptionalism is about. It's not about our economic problems or jobs or the fact that Main Street is falling behind or that we've done nothing about Wall Street or that we have a Fed out of control or all the other issues that we could mention. That is code for an aggressive foreign policy that I think is the most dangerous thing we could do at the moment.
source of partial transcript Mark Finkelstein newsbusters.org
Of late the term "American Exceptionalism" has been code for "aggressive foreign policy", as the former Reagan Budget Manager astutely explained.
The GOP candidates know the code. The GOP candidates use the code. The GOP candidates, with a lone exception, have been rhetorically hammering out the drumbeat for even more American-led War ...
Will Iran become the next Iraq?
by jamess -- Jan 21, 2012
The Iraq War was painfully, tragically "exceptional."
Even more so, when one examines the often forgotten, tragic absence of evidence.
The basis for this War was as "exceptionally" WRONG as it was shockingly Bold and Audacious ... If only those lessons, would actually be learned.
Historically "American Exceptionalism" has had an entirely different meaning. One often tragic by its own merits. One with a decidedly more economic and social genesis, however. But it was a "story of conquest" nonetheless ...
What is American exceptionalism?
by Ian Tyrrell, wordpress.com
In its classic forms, American exceptionalism refers to the special character of the United States as a uniquely free nation based on democratic ideals and personal liberty. Sometimes this special character is inferred from the nature of American political institutions founded in the 1776-89 period–the declaration of independence (1776), revolution (1776-83), constitution (1787) etc. Thus the “revolution” and its aftermath freeing the US from British control are important in ideas of American exceptionalism. But often the political differences are said to be underpinned by material differences brought about by the wealth/resources of the United States, sometimes seen as a direct product of the freedom of the American people, but by others as the product of the inheritance of the North American continent’s abundant resources. This is the frontier version of the theory, and this and the ideas of social mobility and immigrant assimilation are closely tied to this set of ideas of American material prosperity. Many aspects of American history may be left out or distorted in the traditional narratives -- particularly the histories of Amerindian peoples and the contribution of other ethnic groups that preceded the Anglo-Americans, e.g. Hispanics. Race and slavery are seen as tragic exceptions, and the abolition of the latter was viewed as a partial resolution, encompassed in Lincoln’s idea of a “new birth of freedom” in the Gettysburg Address.
[...]
The actual term “American exceptionalism” was originally coined by German Marxists who wished to explain why the US seemed to have by-passed the rise of socialism and Marxism. (Actually the US had much class conflict, some Marxist parties and theorists, and a lively socialist movement, though the latter was not on the scale of, say, France and Germany.) But exceptionalism is much more than about class conflict.
[...] Others have argued that American “specialness” stems from its political, intellectual, and even religious heritage, and is enduring.
The United States is often said to be a model which should be emulated by the rest of the world, but at other times it has been argued instead that the conditions which gave birth to the United States could not be reproduced elsewhere. Thus other countries are generally seen as trying to follow or catch up, but never do.
I seriously doubt that this 'clash of classes', this fluke of demographics, geography, and selective-history, is what Newt Gingrich has in mind, as he calls others to rally behind his latest cause of "American exceptionalism."
I suspect this is more the "exceptional mindset", that Mr Gingrich has in his "grandiose mind" ... when he appeals to American national pride ...
American exceptionalism
wikipedia
[...]
Although the term does not necessarily imply superiority, many neoconservative and American conservative writers have promoted its use in that sense.[1][5] To them, the United States is like the biblical "shining city on a hill," and exempt from historical forces that have affected other countries.[6]
If only America were that "stellar city on a hill" -- a exemplary model for others to follow.
The standard bearer of justice, and egalitarian opportunity, and actual human-based compassion. A noble thread weaving through Human History, that indeed looked first, to raise up the "least among us."
But history, and greed, and hate, all tell a decidedly different story ... one that is uniquely American indeed.
If only we the America People, actually did steer and direct our exceptional form of Government, what a decidedly different story THAT would be.
Only in America ... are such humble hopes, still possible -- despite all the exceptional evidence to the contrary. Hopes that dare to assume that Corporate dreams can be made to serve Human dreams, in our uniquely people-driven American system.
If only ... such hopes and dreams were made plainly obvious ... what a country this could one day be.