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paleotn

(19,853 posts)
15. We're exceptional for two things only.
Tue Jul 4, 2023, 10:07 AM
Jul 2023

One: A nation based not on tribe, ethnicity, religion or culture, but based on a set of ideas. That everyone is born equal and have inalienable rights. The founders did a lot of borrowing, but took those themes to their logical conclusions. We're certainly imperfect in fulfilling those ideas, but we do try more often than not, so in that, I am proud to be an American. If Zinn or the flag wavers he dislikes are looking for perfect, forget it. They'll never find it, but we do the best we can most of the time.

Second: Most important when it comes to our wealth. A group of people, technologically advanced for their time, were set loose on a continent, mind boggling rich with resources, and populated by far less numerous and less advanced peoples who could be easily pushed aside. The Mississippi River system is itself unique on the plant in that it's navigable for hundreds and hundreds of miles throughout the heart of the continent. The valleys of that gigantic river system are some of the most fertile land on the planet. Given all that, it would have been highly unusual if we DIDN'T become unbelievably wealthy and powerful.

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Thank you... Think. Again. Jul 2023 #1
Sounds like a good strategy to lose elections. brooklynite Jul 2023 #2
He seems to conflate patriotism and nationalism. N/T lapucelle Jul 2023 #3
how thick is the line between "patriotism," "nationalism," rampartc Jul 2023 #8
All the more reason not to erase the line, as Zinn seems wont to do. N/T lapucelle Jul 2023 #19
Conservatives call themselves patriots every day. Boomerproud Jul 2023 #10
Patriotism and nationalism are two very different things. lapucelle Jul 2023 #17
YES, the kind of thing that results in the treestar Jul 2023 #24
Truth. Ron Green Jul 2023 #4
Thanks for proving my point... brooklynite Jul 2023 #5
not exactly a real strong winning platform stopdiggin Jul 2023 #11
Post removed Post removed Jul 2023 #22
Agree. sinkingfeeling Jul 2023 #6
Zinn flogged the "Gore is the lesser of two evils" narrative in 2000 when he stumped for Nader. lapucelle Jul 2023 #7
that's the thing about purists and zealots stopdiggin Jul 2023 #14
He was a socialist, and no surprise that he was a naderite. Same ideology of the DSA, JohnSJ Jul 2023 #21
Nah. First year I've felt like flying the flag since tRump era. txwhitedove Jul 2023 #9
A quote attributed to Albert Einstein: lastlib Jul 2023 #12
Yep, but unfortunately it's been imbedded in our genes since we wandered the plains of Africa. paleotn Jul 2023 #18
A losing message if I ever heard one. Elessar Zappa Jul 2023 #13
Pt. Duppers Jul 2023 #26
We're exceptional for two things only. paleotn Jul 2023 #15
+1 treestar Jul 2023 #25
Yeah, except that everyone is not born equal. progressoid Jul 2023 #28
Equal before the law paleotn Jul 2023 #36
+100 nt reACTIONary Jul 2023 #32
I think American artistic expressions are worthy of pride misanthrope Jul 2023 #35
-1 Mosby Jul 2023 #16
What a bunch of Bullshit. Howard Zinn, a self-described anarchist and socialist JohnSJ Jul 2023 #20
Agreed. This is nothing more than extremist propaganda. Progressive Lawyer Jul 2023 #23
+100 nt reACTIONary Jul 2023 #30
Plenty of MAGA think Dems are not even American IronLionZion Jul 2023 #27
DURec leftstreet Jul 2023 #29
America, Embodiment of the spirit of... reACTIONary Jul 2023 #31
Agreed. Xavier Breath Jul 2023 #33
K&R Blue Owl Jul 2023 #34
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