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In reply to the discussion: Why do so many cling to the idea of american exceptionalism? [View all]leveymg
(36,418 posts)4. Collective guilt, denial, and scapegoating. It's like Absolution of Sin, there's a
psychological need to revere the people we've destroyed and to assume that we've inherited their virtues and cleansed our own sins in the process. That's why we name our sports teams and attack helicopters after Native American tribes we've annihilated.
Read Rene Girard's, "Violence and the Sacred." You won't look at American History, mass culture, politics, government, wars and foreign policy the same way afterwards.
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Wingers are always preaching personal responsibility which means learning from mistakes yet
libtodeath
Mar 2012
#8
Much of it is learned in grade school and high school history classes. I was a student in the 50s
jwirr
Mar 2012
#40
Collective guilt, denial, and scapegoating. It's like Absolution of Sin, there's a
leveymg
Mar 2012
#4
Go out and get "Violence and the Sacred" today. It's essential and revealing reading.
leveymg
Mar 2012
#16
We'll put off the quiz for a week, then. ;-) Let me know what you think about it
leveymg
Mar 2012
#33
practically all other countries have wiped out racism? really? when did this happen?
arely staircase
Mar 2012
#39
Tell that to the millions of Iraquis and Afghans who have had family killed by us over oil.
libtodeath
Mar 2012
#21
"Patriotism is the most foolish of passions, and the passion of fools." Schopenhauer
Tierra_y_Libertad
Mar 2012
#28