Thursday, July 12, 2012
American Exceptionalism
The following is a generalization. I like generalizations. I think they often provide more insight into an issue than micro-analysis. For the sake of polemic rigor and symbolic revelation, generalization "gets the job done."
For most Americans living overseas in most countries, one initially comes to notice the comparative flaws in our homeland and its culture. The new home is often seen as superior in numerous ways. Eventually, if paying attention, one eventually begins to see the stifling top-down weight of cultures fixed rigidly in a thousand daily events from emptying the garbage to driving. One begins to notice that America's flaws of misdeed, error, or excess are dwarfed by the nonsensical malaise of obedience found in the life spirit of many countries where rules both written and unwritten dictate stasis and compromise with the value systems of sheep.
For innovation, diversity, perpetual change, adaptability, and, above all else, the "pursuit of happiness," "American exceptionalism" is no mere nationalistic stance, it's true in every way. Gifted with a dynamism and vigor born of free thought and volition, it runs rings around pedantic lists of "government services" or sophisticated polemics on why one must "sacrifice" on the many altars of statism.
"The American dream" is a dream come true - rare among the nations of the world.
