The Decline of American Exceptionalism
Two worldviews are fighting to claim the identity of America in the 21st century. One is centered upon Judeo-Christian morality and encompasses discipline, virtue, courage, and the dignity of being an American. The other promotes lawlessness, endless grievances, class-racial-gender conflicts, and plain name-calling. The former encompasses American exceptionalism, individual freedom with responsibility, and classic ideas and ideals of the rights of man as embodied in the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution. At the same time, the left focuses on the negatives of U.S. history as well as upon vindictiveness and conflict to reach its goals. We see these hostile themes reflected in the public utterances of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, both of whom sucked the milk of radicalism from the famous community organizer Saul Alinsky. Additionally, since President Donald Trump's nomination, we have heard the nonstop screeds and vindictive words from the leadership of the Democratic Party. Nowhere are these sentiments expressed more clearly than on America's college campuses. Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, remarked, "One of the greatest threats to America is the fact that our school system is not teaching the next generation morals, American exceptionalism, free enterprise, the Constitution, the dangers of socialism, or the value of hard work." There can be no substitute for being a responsible consumer of one's education by doing one's own work honestly, forthrightly, and independently. Progressives have run education off the rails and well nigh ruined it. Colleges were once proving grounds for success in the professions. Doctrinally, students pay dreadful confiscatory tribute to progressivism where issues of race and political correctness form the foci of their consciousness. They are the bywords for error. Competition through self-expression is the means by which students achieve success and establish themselves in the world. It is incumbent upon teachers everywhere to set the example so that their students aspire to the cultural, moral, and intellectual grandeur to which they are capable.
Rather than embracing these traditional American values, progressives objectify race and political correctness as the centers of their worldviews and use them as pretexts to foment institutional chaos. No longer are they content to engage conservatives honestly and in good faith. Through heightened antipathy, they play the victim by antagonizing conservatives often along racial lines to garner public sympathy and thereby bolster their voter base. As repugnant the victim-grievance mentality has become, it has proven remarkably successful. Ever so much more, the very rule of law has become anachronistic. The growing reactions on the left against free speech and the right to bear arms are well established. Honest hardworking folks have been unfairly set upon by the malaise of relativism where the state becomes the final arbiter of not only their freedom but also of their wealth and privilege.
Through their intransigence on fiscal policies, which are presently our most pressing issues, the left alienated honest, hardworking folks by refusing to connect with them on tax reform, the productile need for which cannot be overstated. The folks have long felt ignored, abandoned, and forgotten by their government. They have groaned under the burden of rising taxes, which, over time, cheapen the products of their work. It is through the dignity of work that we celebrate our heritage as Americans and where we become part of a cause far higher than ourselves. Democrats believe forgivably that there exists a disparity of privilege between rich and poor. They less forgivably have missed an important opportunity to honestly engage with the folks on the broader issue of economic resurgence. They believe erroneously and altogether unforgivably that they are entitled to spend wealth that is not theirs. Work is not relative. Neither are earnings.
Philosophically, the entire progressive movement errs upon this relativism and abject disdain for capitalism. It should be noted that the beginning of socialism is progressivism. Communism, with all of its ghastly accoutrements, is its end. If left unchecked, chaos ensues where, in a climate of unparalleled polarization, President Trump is correct. The rule of law is especially needed. Democrats cannot be trusted to use freedom responsibly.
Democrats and even a few republicans have overplayed their hand through their evangelization of resistance. It will not avail, and neither will policing opinion with phony grievance- and protest-mongering. Through their oftentimes reckless abandon for the rule of law, the left have adamantly refused to come to terms. To wise up is the doom they must deem.
It takes more than pusillanimous behavior and siren songs of moral relativism to make government work as it does to make human life work, simple, messy at times, and altogether imperfect it may be. It consists not of vacuous bureaucracies where success depends upon the failure of others, as it so often does, and its object is measured ephemerally only in terms of riches and of privilege. Least of all, is it a strident encomium of vitriolic left-wing agendas where protest bordering on lawlessness is glorified as a societal good. American life is and should always be a renewal movement built upon the dignity of being an American – a living hope directed by discipline, virtue, and above all order. It therefore takes time, energy, and courage. Most of all, it requires character and a manifestation of moral truth to set the example. This, then, is the true business by which we as Americans aspire to greatness. Democrats must grasp this universality so in time, they may at last be grasped by it.
We are reminded of the first chapter of Genesis, whereby God set the example through the light He created in the midst of darkness and chaos. From this light came life and law. We would do well to mark them both for one cannot be had without the other. https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2018/04/the_decline_of_american_exceptionalism.html
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“President Trump is correct. The rule of law is especially needed. Democrats cannot be trusted to use freedom responsibly.
Democrats and even a few republicans have overplayed their hand through their evangelization of resistance. It will not avail, and neither will policing opinion with phony grievance- and protest-mongering. Through their oftentimes reckless abandon for the rule of law, the left have adamantly refused to come to terms. To wise up is the doom they must deem.
It takes more than pusillanimous behavior and siren songs of moral relativism to make government work as it does to make human life work, simple, messy at times, and altogether imperfect it may be. It consists not of vacuous bureaucracies where success depends upon the failure of others, as it so often does, and its object is measured ephemerally only in terms of riches and of privilege. Least of all, is it a strident encomium of vitriolic left-wing agendas where protest bordering on lawlessness is glorified as a societal good. American life is and should always be a renewal movement built upon the dignity of being an American – a living hope directed by discipline, virtue, and above all order. It therefore takes time, energy, and courage. Most of all, it requires character and a manifestation of moral truth to set the example. This, then, is the true business by which we as Americans aspire to greatness. Democrats must grasp this universality so in time, they may at last be grasped by it.”
It's the fault of leftists that a teavangelical poster boy with an obsession for humping porn stars occupies the white house.
This is insulting to anyone that does not follow the Bible. As a follower of Wicca I do not subscribe to any of the following:
It appears to me you are the one causing the problems. Expecting all to follow what you believe or they are what you posted from the article above. Fear mongering - that is all this is - a witch hunt. Believe in your Bible or you are bad - pathetic attempt at divisiveness.
according to this article (and quite a few posters on NT) - it's always the other side's fault and they are constantly victims since those who don't believe the same way they do actually exist in this country and have an opinion/voice as well.
free speech is funny like that.
Cheers
For HA and his ilk, it's always "us against them". They claim love but preach hatred. They see everything in black and white. Nothing is ever a shade of gray. They have a vision for America and if you aren't aboard, you have to get out. They preach this radical agenda under the guise of being victims. The intellectual elite {colleges and universities} are against them. The seats of power are in the deep state and are controlled by democratic radicals. It goes on and on. Ultimately it's the same argument Hitler had in the 1930s. "If you weren't true to Nazi ideals, you were an enemy of the state and will be dealt with."
HA seeds are just an endless stream of pity parties and how mean everyone is to him for having the gall to have different ideas and opinions.
I have an ilk? Sounds like an insult to me.
Is ilk a dirty word? Look it up if you aren't sure. Its not.
"ilk" are the people I mock and ridicule IRL because of the seeds you publish.
It’s sad that some hate America so much that they deny our exceptional nature and the divine providence surrounding our founding as a country that is a beacon of light to the rest of the world.
was manufactured by our own politicians both left and right... but those days are done.
Cheers
How prejudicial
American exceptionalism is a great thing. All real Americans would want that for their country.
IMO exceptionalism is mainly in the eye of the beholder. IMO The USA is an exceptional country mainly because of "We the People" having the power. As the wealthiest among us Buy up the politicians I see our power diminishing so WTF is so exceptional about that ? Many countries are "He who owns the Gold makes the rules, the USA isn't much different these days.
I disagree. The US will only fall from its place of prominence if we let it, if we refuse to make the hard choices that need to be made for the long term health of the country. But our politicians are supremely lazy and reelection is all that matters, which means they will avoid the hard choices as much as possible.
The Decline of American Exceptionalism
For something to fall into decline it must have existed at one time or another. This is purely a myth, no peoples past, present or future have been any better or worse than another, other than perhaps in their own minds.
Pure hubris.
It is true, nations rise and fall, always have and always will. There is nothing that makes America inherently superior, we simply had quite a few smart folks in charge in the beginning at at numerous times throughout who have made wise decisions.
America has always been a shining city on a hill, a beacon of light to all other nations. We are exceptional and only our own so called progressives deny their own country that status.
Bull!! Trump and his right wing cohorts are making a fool out of America and it's people in front of the entire world. His endless kissing of Putin's azz, and playing up to the Russian oligarchs to fatten his own pockets, is making a mockery of our own long held policies toward our known enemies. You and others try to blame everything on the 'progressives', but, your own party is the one that is flushing America and its people down the toilet while the rest of the world laughs at us.
Yeah, so said Egypt, China, Persia, Rome, Mongols, etc. etc said. Seriously, take your pick, every empire ever has made a similar claim, and they have all met the same fate.
Not a Progressive, do not presume nor generalize.
You have it exactly backward. It was the obama regime that dragged America through the mud like Carter did. Like Reagan, Trumpis restoring the people’s faith and confidence in their country and its exceptional nature. Real Americans are proud of America and its accomplishments since her founding.
Yawn as usual HA is the perpetual victim. Never responsible for anything, it is always everyone else that is the source of all of life's problems.
Very true.
Interestingly, somebody already noted this very issue with conservatives. I think this author might be watching a bit too much HBO.
And unto us Trump is spawned.
And unto us Trump is spawned.
Yes, and this led to many of his cohorts and fellow Republicans thinking they are above the laws of our country. I found this very interesting;
"Colorado Supreme Court knocks US Rep. Lamborn off ballot"
"The court ruled Monday that Lamborn's re-election campaign didn't collect enough valid voter signatures to make the party's June 26 primary.
It reversed a lower court ruling in a lawsuit that challenged the validity of voter signatures Lamborn's campaign used to petition onto the primary.
Secretary of State Wayne Williams had approved Lamborn's ballot petition on March 29.
Five Republican voters in Lamborn's Colorado Springs-based district sued Williams.
They claimed seven circulators who collected signatures were not Colorado residents."
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A wee bit of intentional hanky-panky maybe? After all, he IS a Republican. Why should he and his cohorts be expected to follow the rules of law?
Oh...wait....I bet it was all the fault of the 'progressives'. Yeah....THEY did it. For shame.
That fucking tea party congressman has every teavangelical dick in Colorado Springs in his mouth. Looks like the GOPers that filed suit are sick of being under the thumb of born again scum in that city.
To bad many of these people engage in -
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The only people who believe in "American Exceptionalism" today are Fox viewers and other people who've never done much if any traveling outside the US, and people ignorant of US history.
American Exceptionalism, assuming it ever existed for Americans, contracted a cancerous tumor with Reagan and Supply Side Economics. There is not a cure. The tumor must be excised.
America has vast stores of wealth. Unfortunately, most of it is consolidated into the control of the laziest, ungrateful and unpatriotic people on the planet.
Exactly. It ended up in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, Baltimore-Washington DC, Boston, and the New York City metro areas. They are exactly as you describe and are a tumor that must be excised.