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 BHW Resident Surgeon
Posts: 25352
  
Location: Bastrop, Texas | I wonder what that expression, “American Exceptionalism” means to people. Personally, I thought it was dead and buried.
I realize all markets wax and wane, just like the economy, but I’m actually thinking the idea of “America First” and “American Exceptionalism” might be for real. | |
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 Guys Just Wanna Have Fun
Posts: 5530
Location: OH | Why else do you think the world wants to come here and be a part of it. | |
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Expert
Posts: 1314
Location: North Central Iowa Land of white frozen grass | Its for real. That is why everyone in the third world countries wants to come here. You get to wondering how bad some of these other countries are like to live in. | |
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"Heck's Coming With Me"
Posts: 10797
Location: Kansas | Open borders
Socialism
Abolish ICE
Raise taxes
Gov't run healthcare
Eliminate the electoral college
Disrespect our flag
Underfund our military
These are some of the things that can change our exceptionalism. The left loves all of the above. | |
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I Really Love Jeans
Posts: 3173
Location: North Dakota | I lived in a foreign country for several years and can say that the income is very low and cost of living is extremely high!! The high school I taught at was over crowded and your average teacher made roughly $225 a month! Now that’s full time! That’s why people want to come here and we are very lucky to have good paying jobs and a great cost of living compared to most countries!!! I gave birth to my daughter while living abroad and it was stil blood on the floor from the delivery before I kid you not!! We are blessed and should not let it slip away and be destroyed by liberal idiots!! | |
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  Semper Fi
Location: North Texas | As Angelica stated and Others who have lived and traveled abroad, America is at the top of the heap! Seriously speaking, until One experience life and culture outside The United States, then One has idea just Exceptional America actually is! | |
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Veteran
Posts: 127
Location: Nebraska | The United States certainly not the worst country to live in, but I don't think it's necessarily the best.
So yeah, I guess. To an extent. | |
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 Proud to be Deplorable
Posts: 1929
| RockyMountainRacer - 2018-10-17 7:03 PM
The United States certainly not the worst country to live in, but I don't think it's necessarily the best.
So yeah, I guess. To an extent.
Ok I will bite what country is the best? | |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | jbhoot - 2018-10-17 7:13 PM RockyMountainRacer - 2018-10-17 7:03 PM The United States certainly not the worst country to live in, but I don't think it's necessarily the best. So yeah, I guess. To an extent. Ok I will bite what country is the best?
Gosh I would like to know this too. If its not the best why in the he** do all these illeagls flood the USA? And why do we have so many different cultures of humans living/moving here? | |
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 Expert
Posts: 2097
Location: Deep South | Does anyone here follow the Facebook page Humans of New York? The stories that he shares from other countries make me believe that without a doubt it's real.
As much as everyone likes to bicker about our government and call it corrupt, the atrocities going on in other parts of the world make me so grateful to live here. I'm not naive, I do realize there are corrupt politicians in our government, but it's not nearly as systematically widespread as what I've read about other countries. Myanmar is currently committing genocide against an entire religion. We have the privilege of never having to worry about being prosecuted for any religion we choose. We have hungry people here, but there is currently widespread famine, the world's worst in 100+ years, affecting 14 million people in Yemen. | |
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Semper Fi
Location: North Texas | RockyMountainRacer - 2018-10-17 7:03 PM
The United States certainly not the worst country to live in, but I don't think it's necessarily the best.
So yeah, I guess. To an extent.
Please share your experience(s) of why you believe the way you do. | |
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Veteran
Posts: 127
Location: Nebraska | foundation horse - 2018-10-18 12:41 PM
RockyMountainRacer - 2018-10-17 7:03 PM
The United States certainly not the worst country to live in, but I don't think it's necessarily the best.
So yeah, I guess. To an extent.
Please share your experience (s ) of why you believe the way you do.
Well, here's the way I see it. Americans have a lot of pride in their nation- which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but people tend to overlook the flaws and there is quite a bit of anti-progress and anti-science sentiment everywhere. I guess in the end, I'd consider a more educated country to be a better place to live. But that's just me. | |
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BHW Resident Surgeon
Posts: 25352
Location: Bastrop, Texas | Name one. Define “progress”. Are you referring to the “progressive movement”? | |
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Veteran
Posts: 127
Location: Nebraska | Bear - 2018-10-18 8:22 PM
Name one. Define “progress”. Are you referring to the “progressive movement”?
Canada, for one, has a better education system. And as far as progress goes, well... just look at the thread about vaccines on here. You have a number of people refusing to acknowledge scientific fact. Now, I know there are bad eggs everywhere, but we really need to start believing in things that can be proven.
You don't have to agree with me. But I'm entitled to my opinion, and as things are right now I don't think that will change anytime soon. | |
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BHW Resident Surgeon
Posts: 25352
Location: Bastrop, Texas | RockyMountainRacer - 2018-10-18 9:39 PM
Bear - 2018-10-18 8:22 PM
Name one. Define “progress”. Are you referring to the “progressive movement”?
Canada, for one, has a better education system. And as far as progress goes, well... just look at the thread about vaccines on here. You have a number of people refusing to acknowledge scientific fact. Now, I know there are bad eggs everywhere, but we really need to start believing in things that can be proven.
You don't have to agree with me. But I'm entitled to my opinion, and as things are right now I don't think that will change anytime soon.
Well obviously I agree with you on vaccines, but the antivax movement is not uniquely American. In fact it actually started in England. I’m not convinced that the Canadian education system is so superior. We have our shortcomings, to be sure, but one aspect of American exceptionalism is that we hash out our shortcomings in full view of the rest of the world. Another thing I’d like to point out is how we provide educational opportunities for people around the world. Nearly 400 Nobel Prize laureates originate from the US. About 20-25 came from Canada. Even when you consider the populations of the two countries, the US, there’s no comparison.
When it comes to freedom, we are still that shining city on the hill.
When a country needs protection from tyranny and aggression, the world depends on us. Canada is a beneficiary of out military might and protection. We are still leading the world in most categories, including tech advances, advances in medicine and research, and our generosity and humanitarian aid is unmatched. American pride is finally on the rise once again.
Edited by Bear 2018-10-18 11:56 PM
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A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | RockyMountainRacer - 2018-10-18 9:01 PM foundation horse - 2018-10-18 12:41 PM RockyMountainRacer - 2018-10-17 7:03 PM The United States certainly not the worst country to live in, but I don't think it's necessarily the best. So yeah, I guess. To an extent. Please share your experience (s ) of why you believe the way you do. Well, here's the way I see it. Americans have a lot of pride in their nation- which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but people tend to overlook the flaws and there is quite a bit of anti-progress and anti-science sentiment everywhere. I guess in the end, I'd consider a more educated country to be a better place to live. But that's just me.
What country do you and your family live in that is better then America? | |
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Veteran
Posts: 194
Location: Pittsburg, Texas 75686 | Canada is socialized medicine. I experienced that two weeks ago in Italy (a country I love) but socialized medicine is the Pitts | |
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Semper Fi
Location: North Texas | RockyMountainRacer - 2018-10-18 9:39 PM
Bear - 2018-10-18 8:22 PM
Name one. Define “progress”. Are you referring to the “progressive movement”?
Canada, for one, has a better education system. And as far as progress goes, well... just look at the thread about vaccines on here. You have a number of people refusing to acknowledge scientific fact. Now, I know there are bad eggs everywhere, but we really need to start believing in things that can be proven.
You don't have to agree with me. But I'm entitled to my opinion, and as things are right now I don't think that will change anytime soon.
And you just illustrated a uniquely American Trait! Freedom of Speech. Combined with freedom of action. There are many many countries world wide where these traits do not exist!
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BHW Resident Surgeon
Posts: 25352
Location: Bastrop, Texas | krape - 2018-10-19 11:20 AM
Canada is socialized medicine. I experienced that two weeks ago in Italy (a country I love) but socialized medicine is the Pitts
Yes it is. I’ve seen it up close and personal myself.
The big selling point is the false notion of “FREE” healthcare.
I can’t believe the stupidity of anyone who actually buys into that crap. Healthcare is not free.....anywhere. The taxpayers in those countries with “free” healthcare pay for it. In Canada, for example, they might pay a little less, but as the old adage goes, you get what you pay for. The reason Canadians say they are satisfied with their healthcare is that they don’t know any different. The concept of a person paying for their own healthcare is foreign to them.
Now, to be honest, our healthcare is way too expensive, but that can be fixed, and we can still preserve what’s great about our system.
I don’t want to do very many things the way they do things in Canada and Europe. The reason why we still live in the greatest country on earth is because we DON’T follow their lead. | |
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Semper Fi
Location: North Texas | RockyMountainRacer - 2018-10-18 9:39 PM
Bear - 2018-10-18 8:22 PM
Name one. Define “progress”. Are you referring to the “progressive movement”?
Canada, for one, has a better education system. And as far as progress goes, well... just look at the thread about vaccines on here. You have a number of people refusing to acknowledge scientific fact. Now, I know there are bad eggs everywhere, but we really need to start believing in things that can be proven.
You don't have to agree with me. But I'm entitled to my opinion, and as things are right now I don't think that will change anytime soon.
Have You ever had the opportunity (to experience) Canada or its Socialized Healthcare System?
Or have You ever traveled to any place outside The Continental North America? Until You have that first hand experience, of dealing with Cultures outside The USA, I would have to discard your perspective. Sorry, but that is an opinion based without fact to support said opinion. | |
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 Lady Di
Posts: 21556
Location: Oklahoma | I think one example of American Exceptionalism is the fact that we have a fully voluteer military. I don't know of another country in the world that has people that will volunteer to die to defend what they have. I'm pretty sure all other countries draft their military. Also, most of the modern things we take for granted were invented in America. People here aren't so consumed with just staying alive that they actually have time to invent things to make life better and business more efficient. We also feed the majority of the world. Even though it's not perfect, I think it's still the safest place in the world to live and thrive and become what you want to be. | |
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 "Mom"
| dianeguinn - 2018-10-22 11:55 AM I think one example of American Exceptionalism is the fact that we have a fully voluteer military. I don't know of another country in the world that has people that will volunteer to die to defend what they have. I'm pretty sure all other countries draft their military. Also, most of the modern things we take for granted were invented in America. People here aren't so consumed with just staying alive that they actually have time to invent things to make life better and business more efficient. We also feed the majority of the world. Even though it's not perfect, I think it's still the safest place in the world to live and thrive and become what you want to be.
Thank you for pointing that out Diane.
My son is leaving for the Middle East on Friday. (not allowed to divuldge location) he is a USAF SOF ( Special Operations Forces Soldier. ) Reflecting on how much he has given up of his life already and the danger he will face I can say is "exceptional". And his teammates and others who serve are "exceptional". We are all created equal in God's eyes. But time again the United States of America has sent their sons and daughters to fight for the freedom of others and ourselves. We do not colonize like the English did. We don't grab land from eneimes. We are the liberators. The Normanday American Cemetery alone has almost 10K American Soldiers buried, ,most who gave their lives on D Day. If that is not exeptional then what is? 
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 Expert
Posts: 3782
Location: Gainesville, TX | dianeguinn - 2018-10-22 11:55 AM
I think one example of American Exceptionalism is the fact that we have a fully voluteer military. I don't know of another country in the world that has people that will volunteer to die to defend what they have. I'm pretty sure all other countries draft their military. Also, most of the modern things we take for granted were invented in America. People here aren't so consumed with just staying alive that they actually have time to invent things to make life better and business more efficient. We also feed the majority of the world. Even though it's not perfect, I think it's still the safest place in the world to live and thrive and become what you want to be.
The UK, Romania, Poland, Canada, Australia, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jamaica, New Zealand, etc. There are 106 total listed that have no enforced conscription. Some of them are small countries that just don't have a military force at all but a good number of European countries, Australia, and Canada are also all volunteer military.
We also are not the safest. We do not even make the top 30. https://www.businessinsider.com/safest-countries-in-the-world-2018-6...
A few other statistics: http://premieroffshore.com/usa-is-best-country-in-the-world/
We lead the world in three areas: Number of incarcerated citizens per capita, Number of adults who believe angels are real, and Defense spending.
Don't get me wrong. I love my country. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else at all. But sometimes we get a big head and are kind of A***H****s about it. There are tons of great things about America. But there are tons of great things about other places in the world too. God created all humans equal at soul level; we suffer the sin of pride pretty quick when we start thinking we are better and more deserving just because of the geographic location we were born. We are darn lucky yes, but not better.
Edited by oija 2018-10-22 1:02 PM
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Semper Fi
Location: North Texas | oija - 2018-10-22 12:48 PM
dianeguinn - 2018-10-22 11:55 AM
I think one example of American Exceptionalism is the fact that we have a fully voluteer military. I don't know of another country in the world that has people that will volunteer to die to defend what they have. I'm pretty sure all other countries draft their military. Also, most of the modern things we take for granted were invented in America. People here aren't so consumed with just staying alive that they actually have time to invent things to make life better and business more efficient. We also feed the majority of the world. Even though it's not perfect, I think it's still the safest place in the world to live and thrive and become what you want to be.
The UK, Romania, Poland, Canada, Australia, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jamaica, New Zealand, etc. There are 106 total listed that have no enforced conscription. Some of them are small countries that just don't have a military force at all but a good number of European countries, Australia, and Canada are also all volunteer military.
We also are not the safest. We do not even make the top 30. https://www.businessinsider.com/safest-countries-in-the-world-2018-6...
A few other statistics: http://premieroffshore.com/usa-is-best-country-in-the-world/
We lead the world in three areas: Number of incarcerated citizens per capita, Number of adults who believe angels are real, and Defense spending.
Don't get me wrong. I love my country. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else at all. But sometimes we get a big head and are kind of A***H****s about it. There are tons of great things about America. But there are tons of great things about other places in the world too. God created all humans equal at soul level; we suffer the sin of pride pretty quick when we start thinking we are better and more deserving just because of the geographic location we were born. We are darn lucky yes, but not better.
Something that makes America 'exceptional' from the rest of The World is The U.S. Constitution! A Foundational Document that limits Government interference in Citizen's Lives! And gives Citizens a mechanism to defend themselves from Criminals and Tyrannical Governments! | |
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Expert
Posts: 3782
Location: Gainesville, TX | foundation horse - 2018-10-22 2:22 PM
oija - 2018-10-22 12:48 PM
dianeguinn - 2018-10-22 11:55 AM
I think one example of American Exceptionalism is the fact that we have a fully voluteer military. I don't know of another country in the world that has people that will volunteer to die to defend what they have. I'm pretty sure all other countries draft their military. Also, most of the modern things we take for granted were invented in America. People here aren't so consumed with just staying alive that they actually have time to invent things to make life better and business more efficient. We also feed the majority of the world. Even though it's not perfect, I think it's still the safest place in the world to live and thrive and become what you want to be.
The UK, Romania, Poland, Canada, Australia, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jamaica, New Zealand, etc. There are 106 total listed that have no enforced conscription. Some of them are small countries that just don't have a military force at all but a good number of European countries, Australia, and Canada are also all volunteer military.
We also are not the safest. We do not even make the top 30. https://www.businessinsider.com/safest-countries-in-the-world-2018-6...
A few other statistics: http://premieroffshore.com/usa-is-best-country-in-the-world/
We lead the world in three areas: Number of incarcerated citizens per capita, Number of adults who believe angels are real, and Defense spending.
Don't get me wrong. I love my country. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else at all. But sometimes we get a big head and are kind of A***H****s about it. There are tons of great things about America. But there are tons of great things about other places in the world too. God created all humans equal at soul level; we suffer the sin of pride pretty quick when we start thinking we are better and more deserving just because of the geographic location we were born. We are darn lucky yes, but not better.
Something that makes America 'exceptional' from the rest of The World is The U.S. Constitution! A Foundational Document that limits Government interference in Citizen's Lives! And gives Citizens a mechanism to defend themselves from Criminals and Tyrannical Governments!
America pulled a lot from Thomas Hobbs, the Magna Carta, the Mayflower Compact, other representative governments in history like Rome and Greece for the Constitution. It's not all original and most of it wasn't American to start with. And certainly having a revolution when you get ****ed isn't new either, check out the Peasant's Revolt of 1381 in Britain. What IS original and was a brilliant stroke from the writers of the Constitution was the idea of checks and balances. Of course they figured that out after the failure of the Articles of Confederation, which means they admitted they had failure in a few places and then made it better. If we always think we are better than everyone, we may not admit where we need to improve. When we do realize we have failed and work to fix it, well then we tend to do things that are pretty darn awesome. | |
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Semper Fi
Location: North Texas | oija - 2018-10-22 2:37 PM
foundation horse - 2018-10-22 2:22 PM
oija - 2018-10-22 12:48 PM
dianeguinn - 2018-10-22 11:55 AM
I think one example of American Exceptionalism is the fact that we have a fully voluteer military. I don't know of another country in the world that has people that will volunteer to die to defend what they have. I'm pretty sure all other countries draft their military. Also, most of the modern things we take for granted were invented in America. People here aren't so consumed with just staying alive that they actually have time to invent things to make life better and business more efficient. We also feed the majority of the world. Even though it's not perfect, I think it's still the safest place in the world to live and thrive and become what you want to be.
The UK, Romania, Poland, Canada, Australia, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jamaica, New Zealand, etc. There are 106 total listed that have no enforced conscription. Some of them are small countries that just don't have a military force at all but a good number of European countries, Australia, and Canada are also all volunteer military.
We also are not the safest. We do not even make the top 30. https://www.businessinsider.com/safest-countries-in-the-world-2018-6...
A few other statistics: http://premieroffshore.com/usa-is-best-country-in-the-world/
We lead the world in three areas: Number of incarcerated citizens per capita, Number of adults who believe angels are real, and Defense spending.
Don't get me wrong. I love my country. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else at all. But sometimes we get a big head and are kind of A***H****s about it. There are tons of great things about America. But there are tons of great things about other places in the world too. God created all humans equal at soul level; we suffer the sin of pride pretty quick when we start thinking we are better and more deserving just because of the geographic location we were born. We are darn lucky yes, but not better.
Something that makes America 'exceptional' from the rest of The World is The U.S. Constitution! A Foundational Document that limits Government interference in Citizen's Lives! And gives Citizens a mechanism to defend themselves from Criminals and Tyrannical Governments!
America pulled a lot from Thomas Hobbs, the Magna Carta, the Mayflower Compact, other representative governments in history like Rome and Greece for the Constitution. It's not all original and most of it wasn't American to start with. And certainly having a revolution when you get ****ed isn't new either, check out the Peasant's Revolt of 1381 in Britain. What IS original and was a brilliant stroke from the writers of the Constitution was the idea of checks and balances. Of course they figured that out after the failure of the Articles of Confederation, which means they admitted they had failure in a few places and then made it better. If we always think we are better than everyone, we may not admit where we need to improve. When we do realize we have failed and work to fix it, well then we tend to do things that are pretty darn awesome.
Agreed. However, I appreciate how Reagan phrased America as 'The Shining Light on The Hill'. There is really something to that analogy. It is illustrated in how America is 'the' destination for the destitute, and The World expects America to step up and step in to help with just every type of crisis there is world wide....................... | |
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Expert
Posts: 3782
Location: Gainesville, TX | foundation horse - 2018-10-22 2:41 PM
oija - 2018-10-22 2:37 PM
foundation horse - 2018-10-22 2:22 PM
oija - 2018-10-22 12:48 PM
dianeguinn - 2018-10-22 11:55 AM
I think one example of American Exceptionalism is the fact that we have a fully voluteer military. I don't know of another country in the world that has people that will volunteer to die to defend what they have. I'm pretty sure all other countries draft their military. Also, most of the modern things we take for granted were invented in America. People here aren't so consumed with just staying alive that they actually have time to invent things to make life better and business more efficient. We also feed the majority of the world. Even though it's not perfect, I think it's still the safest place in the world to live and thrive and become what you want to be.
The UK, Romania, Poland, Canada, Australia, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jamaica, New Zealand, etc. There are 106 total listed that have no enforced conscription. Some of them are small countries that just don't have a military force at all but a good number of European countries, Australia, and Canada are also all volunteer military.
We also are not the safest. We do not even make the top 30. https://www.businessinsider.com/safest-countries-in-the-world-2018-6...
A few other statistics: http://premieroffshore.com/usa-is-best-country-in-the-world/
We lead the world in three areas: Number of incarcerated citizens per capita, Number of adults who believe angels are real, and Defense spending.
Don't get me wrong. I love my country. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else at all. But sometimes we get a big head and are kind of A***H****s about it. There are tons of great things about America. But there are tons of great things about other places in the world too. God created all humans equal at soul level; we suffer the sin of pride pretty quick when we start thinking we are better and more deserving just because of the geographic location we were born. We are darn lucky yes, but not better.
Something that makes America 'exceptional' from the rest of The World is The U.S. Constitution! A Foundational Document that limits Government interference in Citizen's Lives! And gives Citizens a mechanism to defend themselves from Criminals and Tyrannical Governments!
America pulled a lot from Thomas Hobbs, the Magna Carta, the Mayflower Compact, other representative governments in history like Rome and Greece for the Constitution. It's not all original and most of it wasn't American to start with. And certainly having a revolution when you get ****ed isn't new either, check out the Peasant's Revolt of 1381 in Britain. What IS original and was a brilliant stroke from the writers of the Constitution was the idea of checks and balances. Of course they figured that out after the failure of the Articles of Confederation, which means they admitted they had failure in a few places and then made it better. If we always think we are better than everyone, we may not admit where we need to improve. When we do realize we have failed and work to fix it, well then we tend to do things that are pretty darn awesome.
Agreed. However, I appreciate how Reagan phrased America as 'The Shining Light on The Hill'. There is really something to that analogy. It is illustrated in how America is 'the' destination for the destitute, and The World expects America to step up and step in to help with just every type of crisis there is world wide.......................
If we are a light to the destitute, I am sure you can see some of the irony here: http://forums.barrelhorseworld.com/forum/forums/thread-view.asp?tid...
It would appear that we are like the sirens in Homer's Odyssey, calling out to the world how awesome and amazing we are just come and see. Here's a light to guide you. Oh by the way, if you get too close we don't mind shooting or having a few military grade planes doing a fly over, etc.
Perhaps we like the idea of 'being' a light but not the idea of 'sharing' the light.
I fully understand there are a number of complex factors at play in the whole Caravan thing. I too question the interesting timing and whether a few palms might have been greased or if some people were paid just at this moment to stir up people who are probably pretty regular people that are just in a desperate situation and got them moving this direction. I am not blind to that. But I also am not blind to our tendency to jump to violence to deal with these issues and our sometimes blindly prejudicial attitudes to those coming here.
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Semper Fi
Location: North Texas | oija - 2018-10-22 3:09 PM
foundation horse - 2018-10-22 2:41 PM
oija - 2018-10-22 2:37 PM
foundation horse - 2018-10-22 2:22 PM
oija - 2018-10-22 12:48 PM
dianeguinn - 2018-10-22 11:55 AM
I think one example of American Exceptionalism is the fact that we have a fully voluteer military. I don't know of another country in the world that has people that will volunteer to die to defend what they have. I'm pretty sure all other countries draft their military. Also, most of the modern things we take for granted were invented in America. People here aren't so consumed with just staying alive that they actually have time to invent things to make life better and business more efficient. We also feed the majority of the world. Even though it's not perfect, I think it's still the safest place in the world to live and thrive and become what you want to be.
The UK, Romania, Poland, Canada, Australia, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jamaica, New Zealand, etc. There are 106 total listed that have no enforced conscription. Some of them are small countries that just don't have a military force at all but a good number of European countries, Australia, and Canada are also all volunteer military.
We also are not the safest. We do not even make the top 30. https://www.businessinsider.com/safest-countries-in-the-world-2018-6...
A few other statistics: http://premieroffshore.com/usa-is-best-country-in-the-world/
We lead the world in three areas: Number of incarcerated citizens per capita, Number of adults who believe angels are real, and Defense spending.
Don't get me wrong. I love my country. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else at all. But sometimes we get a big head and are kind of A***H****s about it. There are tons of great things about America. But there are tons of great things about other places in the world too. God created all humans equal at soul level; we suffer the sin of pride pretty quick when we start thinking we are better and more deserving just because of the geographic location we were born. We are darn lucky yes, but not better.
Something that makes America 'exceptional' from the rest of The World is The U.S. Constitution! A Foundational Document that limits Government interference in Citizen's Lives! And gives Citizens a mechanism to defend themselves from Criminals and Tyrannical Governments!
America pulled a lot from Thomas Hobbs, the Magna Carta, the Mayflower Compact, other representative governments in history like Rome and Greece for the Constitution. It's not all original and most of it wasn't American to start with. And certainly having a revolution when you get ****ed isn't new either, check out the Peasant's Revolt of 1381 in Britain. What IS original and was a brilliant stroke from the writers of the Constitution was the idea of checks and balances. Of course they figured that out after the failure of the Articles of Confederation, which means they admitted they had failure in a few places and then made it better. If we always think we are better than everyone, we may not admit where we need to improve. When we do realize we have failed and work to fix it, well then we tend to do things that are pretty darn awesome.
Agreed. However, I appreciate how Reagan phrased America as 'The Shining Light on The Hill'. There is really something to that analogy. It is illustrated in how America is 'the' destination for the destitute, and The World expects America to step up and step in to help with just every type of crisis there is world wide.......................
If we are a light to the destitute, I am sure you can see some of the irony here: http://forums.barrelhorseworld.com/forum/forums/thread-view.asp?tid...
It would appear that we are like the sirens in Homer's Odyssey, calling out to the world how awesome and amazing we are just come and see. Here's a light to guide you. Oh by the way, if you get too close we don't mind shooting or having a few military grade planes doing a fly over, etc.
Perhaps we like the idea of 'being' a light but not the idea of 'sharing' the light.
I fully understand there are a number of complex factors at play in the whole Caravan thing. I too question the interesting timing and whether a few palms might have been greased or if some people were paid just at this moment to stir up people who are probably pretty regular people that are just in a desperate situation and got them moving this direction. I am not blind to that. But I also am not blind to our tendency to jump to violence to deal with these issues and our sometimes blindly prejudicial attitudes to those coming here.
Let me ask you this? Do you believe in the rule of law? Do you believe in an orderly process? Because, The Constitution IS The Rule of Law for America!
Now, without a Rule of Law to follow and Processes to facilitate said of Rule of Law, then there is Chaos and Anarchy! And this approaching caravan is observing nothing in regards to American Ethics and Values, not to mention Rule of Law and Processes! | |
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Is “American Exceptionalism” real?