American Exceptionalism!
The dictionary tells that Exceptionalism is “the condition of being different from the norm.” That sounds innocuous and acceptable.
The opening of the Wiki sentence on the American Exceptionalism states it “is the idea that the United States is inherently different from other nations.”
One of our exceptional politicians, in the wake of 21 lives lost in Uvalde, Texas, population 15,217, tells a British reporter “I'm sorry you think American exceptionalism is awful.” His words of wisdom were truly exceptional.
Maybe somewhere inside, he is proud of the fact that a steady trickle of mass shootings should be a fact of American psyche and is one of the torches of American exceptionalism. It is what makes us stand out among other nations. We’re Number One! We’re Number One!
We are indeed exceptional in that we cannot mandate wearing masks to tame the beast of the pandemic, but we can mandate that women (an exceptionally large 50% of American society) cannot make choices about their bodies and future.
We are exceptional that we can push for an anti-abortion attitude, but once the child comes to this world, do not care about providing social support for its well-being and development.
All said and done, given the resources we have, the ingenuity we have, the exceptional talent we attract, and things we have achieved as a nation, we are also exceptional in carrying on with our stupidity.
We are exceptional that we can elect an exceptionally gifted leader in 2016.
We are exceptional that 7% us believe that chocolate milk comes from brown cows.
Long live American Exceptionalism.
We can sing at the altar of American Exceptionalism some more, but right now I have to spend an entire month to figure out the nuances of Medicare and calm the gnawing feeling that I may not be making the right decision and it will come back to haunt me when I am 80.
If you have a moment don’t miss this example of American exceptionalism.
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