Is the United States an exceptional country?

              Is the United States an exceptional country? There are quite a few opinions on this question. However, there are two extreme viewpoints, with a wide gradient between; those who think America is an exceptional, and amazing country, we will call them the American "exceptionalists", and those who think a lot less of America. Those who disparage American exceptionalism as egotistical, or worse, just another brand of nationalism, often point to our disappointingly low rank in math and science scores for students as compared to other first-world countries. Many more are critical of America’s rank as the number one most obese country in the world. Many Americans are critical of their education, health, government. Still, despite all this negativity about America’s decadence and decline, there are still those American "exceptionalists" who believe that we are “a city on a hill”. What evidence do those people have that America is an exceptional country?

For starters, we have John Winthrop, the Puritans, the beginning of something new and exciting. However, Winthrop was English, in his lifetime the idea of independence was never touted. What was his speech about then? Politicians today use the term, “city on a hill”, to mean all of America. Winthrop probably meant, the colony, Massachusetts Bay; perhaps on a hill, perhaps not. The Puritans, a community of Christians united in their persecution, were supposed to set an example for Great Britain’s Anglican Church. They were supposed to create a utopian society where the covenant was only between God and his people. Their society was supposed to be so great and amazing that Great Britain would follow them. Not very realistic, but optimistic, and Americans like that. Now, compare that to today’s idea that our cosmopolitan “melting pot” is supposed to set an example for, not Great Britain, but…the rest of the world? Canada obviously would not change what’s already working for them; the Greeks have made it clear that democracy is not the way they want to go; China is… no. Maybe we can make some progress in the Middle East? After all that is what the war in Iraq was for, to create a stable democracy and not allow dictators or extremist groups to take control. And we did all that by setting an example. Maybe we are exceptional. But no example setting happened. There was a war “City on a hill” was not exactly what happened.

One wonders whether or not there have been cases of exceptionalism before. President Obama’s statement about the British having British exceptionalism and the Greeks having Greek exceptionalism answers that question; the “exceptionalists” responded with a resounding “NO”. America is unique in its exceptionalism. However, what about China, calling itself the “Middle Kingdom” until…. well, they still call themselves that. Great Britain and all of Europe believed that it was the “white man’s burden” to support all the other races and civilize them. Greece, when they defeated the Persians had to have been thinking that they were chosen by their gods or something when the Athenians received news that the Battle of Marathon was won. According to the “exceptionalists”, none of those are examples of exceptionalism, the belief that their country is unique among all others. No, these are not “city on a hill” material; they are examples of nationalism.

What is the difference between nationalism and exceptionalism? Nationalism is more self-centered. It has more to deal with pride in one’s own country, rather than seeking to set an example for others. Exceptionalism on the other hand, is the idea that America is qualitatively different from all other countries. That America is chosen by God to lead the world. It was the first colony to be founded by a diverse multitude of immigrants, and from that somehow stems the belief that America should spread its ideas about democracy to other countries. Why should America spread its political or economic ideals to other countries? Spreading democracy and a free-market is America’s duty. It does not matter whether or not the other country has, maybe, a better political system than America, democracy must be spread. Even if it is the type of democracy that divides electoral votes among the states that sometimes fails to reflect popular opinion.

The question still remains; is the United States an exceptional country? The answer lies in another question. What is a country? Is it the territory that the people occupy? No, of course not, if the Xia dynasty had settled in America for some reason and John Winthrop had brought the Puritans to Beijing would that make America the “Middle Kingdom”. No America would still be America. If it’s not the land, then it must be the ideals, America is after all, a democracy loving, capitalist loving country. Still, can ideals fight in wars; can ideals vote for their leaders, can ideals believe in, well, ideals?  No, it is tempting to think so, but ideals are not the flesh and bone of a country. So, then, if it is not the land or the ideals, what exactly is a country? Here’s one for you; a country is its people. America is John Winthrop, America is the Puritans; America is the Africans, the Asians, the Jews, the Arabs, the Indians, the Latinos and not just those. America is the capitalists, the communists, and the Neo-Nazis. America is those who serve and die in the military, and America is those who are surprised when they learn that the national anthem has three more verses after “home of the brave”. Yes, a country is its people. Is the United States an exceptional country? Are we, the people, an exceptional people?