American exceptionalism epitomized by DC massacre
So called "American exceptionalism" has been much in the news lately. President Obama referenced "American exceptionalism" in his September 10th nationwide address on Syria. He invoked it in threatening to unleash cruise missiles to kill Syrian innocents in defiance of international law when he said: "America is not the world’s policeman. Terrible things happen across the globe, and it is beyond our means to right every wrong. But when, with modest effort and risk, we can stop children from being gassed to death, and thereby make our own children safer over the long run, I believe we should act. That’s what makes America different. That’s what makes us exceptional".
That is bunk, and Russian President Vladimir Putin called Obama out over his reliance of this phony "exceptional" bunk in his response, "A plea for caution from Russia", in next day's New York Times. In it he concluded: "I careful...ly studied his address to the nation on Tuesday. And I would rather disagree with a case he made on American exceptionalism, stating that the United States’ policy is 'what makes America different. It’s what makes us exceptional.' It is extremely dangerous to encourage people to see themselves as exceptional, whatever the motivation. There are big countries and small countries, rich and poor, those with long democratic traditions and those still finding their way to democracy. Their policies differ, too. We are all different, but when we ask for the Lord’s blessings, we must not forget that God created us equal".
However, the latest mass killing Monday in American everyday life, this one in Washington DC and the 221st since 4 were killed in a January 1, 2006, Richmond, VA robbery, reminds me of what were really exceptional at: mass murder. Whether it be hundreds of thousands of innocents in senseless pre-emptive wars in the Middle East and Africa, or innocent Americans gunned down by deranged citizens with virtually unlimited access to high powered weaponry at home, America is the most exceptional proponent of senseless death in the so called civilized world. That "American exceptionalism" in nothing to crow about.
That is bunk, and Russian President Vladimir Putin called Obama out over his reliance of this phony "exceptional" bunk in his response, "A plea for caution from Russia", in next day's New York Times. In it he concluded: "I careful...ly studied his address to the nation on Tuesday. And I would rather disagree with a case he made on American exceptionalism, stating that the United States’ policy is 'what makes America different. It’s what makes us exceptional.' It is extremely dangerous to encourage people to see themselves as exceptional, whatever the motivation. There are big countries and small countries, rich and poor, those with long democratic traditions and those still finding their way to democracy. Their policies differ, too. We are all different, but when we ask for the Lord’s blessings, we must not forget that God created us equal".
However, the latest mass killing Monday in American everyday life, this one in Washington DC and the 221st since 4 were killed in a January 1, 2006, Richmond, VA robbery, reminds me of what were really exceptional at: mass murder. Whether it be hundreds of thousands of innocents in senseless pre-emptive wars in the Middle East and Africa, or innocent Americans gunned down by deranged citizens with virtually unlimited access to high powered weaponry at home, America is the most exceptional proponent of senseless death in the so called civilized world. That "American exceptionalism" in nothing to crow about.
posted by Walt Zlotow at 3:54 AM
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