# The insidious lie of American Exceptionalism
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-insidious-lie-of-american-exceptionalism/606487
**Category:** Great Debates
**Created:** [December 17, 2011, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-insidious-lie-of-american-exceptionalism/606487 "2011-12-17T01:35:42Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Linden\_Arden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Linden_Arden)
#### Post date: [December 17, 2011, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-insidious-lie-of-american-exceptionalism/606487/1 "2011-12-17T01:35:42Z")
I watched Gingrich at last night’s debate threaten to dismantle the 9th circuit court. His rationale was that the court had “taken God out of our schools” by upholding the Establishment Clause against the will of voters.
He went on to justify this position based on our Exceptionalism.
What is this Exceptionalism? What are we really the best in?
I say we are the best at profiting from the exploitation of resources. Nothing else. We make money from such better than any other. Exceptionalism is a lie because it is based on the limited resource of others. It is a momentary charade because it is DEPENDENT on others.
Of course, others like Gingrich think we are especially endowed by some supernatural force or special characteristic granted only to Americans. I see no evidence of this farcical notion.
Who is correct?
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### Author:  [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)
#### Post date: [December 17, 2011, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-insidious-lie-of-american-exceptionalism/606487/2 "2011-12-17T01:49:21Z")
I am a moderate Exceptionalist. America from the start had the qualities of constitutional governance which practically every other country at that time lacked. Our franchise was far more generous than that of Britain the only other constitutional country at the time. In the 224 years since the Constitution there has been only one rebellion and no coups, and revolutions.
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### Author:  [@Candyman74](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Candyman74)
#### Post date: [December 17, 2011, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-insidious-lie-of-american-exceptionalism/606487/3 "2011-12-17T01:50:58Z")
Many countries believe in their own exceptionalism; while they are all wrong, America is far from unique in this regard. It’s a natural part of basic tribalism.
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### Author:  [@Linden\_Arden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Linden_Arden)
#### Post date: [December 17, 2011, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-insidious-lie-of-american-exceptionalism/606487/4 "2011-12-17T01:52:23Z")
> [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#):
>
> I am a moderate Exceptionalist. America from the start had the qualities of constitutional governance which practically every other country at that time lacked. Our franchise was far more generous than that of Britain the only other constitutional country at the time. In the 224 years since the Constitution there has been only one rebellion and no coups, and revolutions.
I agree fully.
I just doubt that spirit still exists (as a majority).
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### Author:  [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)
#### Post date: [December 17, 2011, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-insidious-lie-of-american-exceptionalism/606487/5 "2011-12-17T01:58:29Z")
The thing I’ve come to realise about American exceptionalism from reading the SDMB is that it is true - _because_ so many of its people assume exceptionalism.
From my PoV, bad symptoms include the myriad arguments put forward against the adoption of things that most other developed countries have found relatively simple to implement: adoption of international standards; phasing out low-denomination bills; healthcare. On the other hand there is the openness of governmental process, the astonishing drive, entrepreneurialism, and innovation of its people, which often surpass other developed countries.
It exists because it is a self-fulfilling prophecy.
> [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#):
>
> I am a **moderate** Exceptionalist.
Let’s go to the quarry and throw shit down there.
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### Author:  [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)
#### Post date: [December 17, 2011, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-insidious-lie-of-american-exceptionalism/606487/6 "2011-12-17T02:17:20Z")
Before everyone goes off half-cocked again, can the OP give us the actual quote from Newt instead of his paraphrase? He might be absolutely right, but I’ve seen too many times where the quote doesn’t match what an OP is claiming.
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### Author:  [@Linden\_Arden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Linden_Arden)
#### Post date: [December 17, 2011, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-insidious-lie-of-american-exceptionalism/606487/7 "2011-12-17T03:03:02Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#):
>
> Before everyone goes off half-cocked again, can the OP give us the actual quote from Newt instead of his paraphrase? He might be absolutely right, but I’ve seen too many times where the quote doesn’t match what an OP is claiming.
Understood.
Newt’s body of work on American Exceptionalism is vast and I can find dozens of examples. He only sent his latest dog-whistle last night but here is an example — (from a source very pro-Newt)
"After criticizing President Barack Obama for leaving out the fact that “we are endowed by our Creator” on “at least four occasions,” Gingrich said “the fact is what makes American Exceptionalism different is that we are the only people I know of in history who say, ‘Power comes directly from God to you.’”
[http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=46090](http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=46090)
No one but a US-centric theocrat claims that rights are derived from a personal God. If these rights were in fact God-given then Newt would have the same rights in North Korea or Tibet as he does here.
But that is his lie. No such power exists.
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### Author:  [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)
#### Post date: [December 17, 2011, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-insidious-lie-of-american-exceptionalism/606487/8 "2011-12-17T03:52:35Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#):
>
> Before everyone goes off half-cocked again, can the OP give us the actual quote from Newt instead of his paraphrase? He might be absolutely right, but I’ve seen too many times where the quote doesn’t match what an OP is claiming.
“You have to be very careful about quotations you find on the internet.”
- Abraham Lincoln
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### Author:  [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)
#### Post date: [December 17, 2011, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-insidious-lie-of-american-exceptionalism/606487/9 "2011-12-17T04:09:33Z")
> [@Linden\_Arden](#):
>
> "After criticizing President Barack Obama for leaving out the fact that “we are endowed by our Creator” on “at least four occasions,” Gingrich said “the fact is what makes American Exceptionalism different is that we are the only people I know of in history who say, ‘Power comes directly from God to you.’”
Isn’t that the definition of a king?
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### Author:  [@DirkGntly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DirkGntly)
#### Post date: [December 17, 2011, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-insidious-lie-of-american-exceptionalism/606487/10 "2011-12-17T04:11:16Z")
> [@Linden\_Arden](#):
>
> If these rights were in fact God-given then Newt would have the same rights in North Korea or Tibet as he does here.
He does, which is the point of what is written in the Declaration of Independence. The fact that a government chooses to limit, restrict, or otherwise deny those rights to it’s citizens doesn’t mean they don’t exist - it merely means those inalienable rights are being infringed.
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### Author:  [@Linden\_Arden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Linden_Arden)
#### Post date: [December 17, 2011, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-insidious-lie-of-american-exceptionalism/606487/11 "2011-12-17T04:22:07Z")
> [@DirkGntly](#):
>
> He does, which is the point of what is written in the Declaration of Independence. The fact that a government chooses to limit, restrict, or otherwise deny those rights to it’s citizens doesn’t mean they don’t exist - it merely means those inalienable rights are being infringed.
Then I must also have the “right to fuck any woman I wish to - permission or not”.
I mean, why let the Declaration of Independence restrict our rights? We must certainly have other rights!
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### Author:  [@Naxos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Naxos)
#### Post date: [December 17, 2011, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-insidious-lie-of-american-exceptionalism/606487/12 "2011-12-17T04:34:18Z")
> [@Linden\_Arden](#):
>
> What is this Exceptionalism?
White conservative racists that vote Republican in the past 40 years.
That’s the vote he’s after.
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### Author:  [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)
#### Post date: [December 17, 2011, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-insidious-lie-of-american-exceptionalism/606487/13 "2011-12-17T05:06:20Z")
I think we are the best simply because I am part of the we, and I need no other reason.
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### Author:  [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)
#### Post date: [December 17, 2011, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-insidious-lie-of-american-exceptionalism/606487/14 "2011-12-17T05:53:54Z")
> [@Linden\_Arden](#):
>
> Understood.
>
> Newt’s body of work on American Exceptionalism is vast and I can find dozens of examples. He only sent his latest dog-whistle last night but here is an example — (from a source very pro-Newt)
>
> "After criticizing President Barack Obama for leaving out the fact that “we are endowed by our Creator” on “at least four occasions,” Gingrich said “the fact is what makes American Exceptionalism different is that we are the only people I know of in history who say, ‘Power comes directly from God to you.’”
>
> [http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=46090](http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=46090)
>
> No one but a US-centric theocrat claims that rights are derived from a personal God. If these rights were in fact God-given then Newt would have the same rights in North Korea or Tibet as he does here.
>
> But that is his lie. No such power exists.
I’m confused. That quote is from September. I thought you were ranting about something that happened last night during the debate. In your quote, he’s just restating what the DoI says. Who do you think the “Creator” was that those rascals were talking about back in 1776?
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### Author:  [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)
#### Post date: [December 17, 2011, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-insidious-lie-of-american-exceptionalism/606487/15 "2011-12-17T05:55:25Z")
Cthulu.
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### Author:  [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)
#### Post date: [December 17, 2011, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-insidious-lie-of-american-exceptionalism/606487/16 "2011-12-17T06:36:21Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#):
>
> I think we are the best simply because I am part of the we, and I need no other reason.
But, I am he as you are he as you are me and we are all together.
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### Author:  [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)
#### Post date: [December 17, 2011, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-insidious-lie-of-american-exceptionalism/606487/17 "2011-12-17T07:03:08Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#):
>
> I think we are the best simply because I am part of the we, and I need no other reason.
Not exactly the pinnacle of empirical reasoning, there.
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### Author:  [@Cheshire\_Human](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheshire_Human)
#### Post date: [December 17, 2011, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-insidious-lie-of-american-exceptionalism/606487/18 "2011-12-17T13:58:30Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#):
>
> But, I am he as you are he as you are me and we are all together.
The walrus is exceptional.
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### Author:  [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)
#### Post date: [December 19, 2011, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-insidious-lie-of-american-exceptionalism/606487/19 "2011-12-19T15:50:19Z")
We may once have been a country that was created on the belief that we have inalienable rights that were endowed by our creator (unless you are a slave, then you have a different set of rights). Then sure. If he is saying that we are STILL the only country that believes that then he is off his rocker.
You don’t really even need a god in that equation, you can believe in inalienable human rights without believing in any sort of god at all.
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### Author:  [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)
#### Post date: [December 19, 2011, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-insidious-lie-of-american-exceptionalism/606487/20 "2011-12-19T17:14:52Z")
> [@Cheshire\_Human](#):
>
> The walrus is exceptional.
Perhaps so, but you should also try the manatee - so piquant!
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