You may or may not have heard of this concept before; it was an inspiration to the puritans who founded New England. They believed that their colonies had to serve as an inspiration to England (and the rest of Europe, I think) so that they would repent of her sinful ways. Carried forward, it became the idea that America has a special destiny; we aren't like European nations (which for the early part of this nation was, rightly or wrongly, the only point of comparison). In one form or another the idea of American Exceptionalism has continued down to our day.
Michael Barone writing today at Townhall, puts the events at Abu Ghraib prison in this context. He discusses how apparently 83% of Bush supporters believe that America is generally fair and decent, while Democrats are split 46% in favor, 37% opposed. He doesn't reveal where he got these figures, but I assume he got them from "The Almanac of American Politics," which he edits.
At any rate he then engages in false parallelism by suggesting that support for the war in Iraq mirrors belief in American Exceptionalism. But there is no suggestion of a casual relationship; in other words, belief in American Exceptionalism doesn't lead to believing that the Iraq War is justified.
Which brings us the events in Abu Ghraib prison.
"I think we are seeing, or will see, this same pattern of response to Abu Ghraib. Most Americans, and including a large majority of Republicans and about half of Democrats, will see this as aberrant misconduct, a betrayal of the high standards we hold ourselves to and usually uphold. Other Democrats, unbelievers in American exceptionalism, will seize on Abu Ghraib as evidence that this country is not special and especially good. And so, of course, will our critics and enemies around the world."
One thing that I like about this argument is the lack of the middle ground. You either love your nation or you hated it. There's nothing in the middle. Reminds me of something Al Franken said in his last book.
"We [meaning Liberals] love America just as much as they do. But in a different way. You see, they love America the way a four-year-old loves her mommy. Liberals love America like grown-ups. To a four-year-old, everything Mommy does is wonderful and anyone who criticizes Mommy is bad. Grown-up love means actually understanding what you love, taking the good with the bad, and helping your loved one grow. Love takes attention and work and is the best thing in the world."
I think Franken simplifies a little bit too, but his overall point is pretty solid.
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