Reply #124: The American myth rests on American Exceptionalism --

[Emillereid]

we are fed the specialness of America from birth (as is much of the world) so much that we come to believe that we are the center of the universe. Even those of us who criticize American policies and ache for us to live up to our principles and the myths of own making re: liberty and equality for all -- still filter everything through American centrality. Most of the world pays attention to what America's does not because they love us or want to be us, but because we are such a behemoth, that it is in their interests to observe us carefully, lest we move and step on them. We believe ourselves unique in history, god chosen, the great experiment, etc. etc. We proudly boast that we are the greatest nation, the beacon on the hill etc. I cringe at our lack of modesty, our lack of self examination and self reflectiveness. I'm horrified in how we expect the world to mourn and attend to our tragedies such as 911 or MIAs in Vietnam, but not do the same when horrors happen to other people , ie., where's the outpouring of American grief for the French dead this August or the Muslims killed by terrorists acts or the millions dead in Africa or the Iraqi soldiers who were unceremoniously buried (some alive) in the desert, etc. etc. etc. Like a spoiled child we expect everyone to attend to us all the time. Even my conservative brother in law admits that he's embarrassed when he travel's abroad at how 'ugly' Americans have become -- and yes he's one of those so called Darwinian 'realists' who believes it's a matter of survival (of our lifestyles) to steal Iraqi oil and that's it's ok to take care of one's own at the expense of others -- it's how the game of life is played. It's a winner take all game. It's other name is fascism. And poor, stupid Americans fill their empty pockets with tribal pride instead of money -- suckers.

It's hyper racism -- down deep we believe we are better or more important than other people --even when we attempt to be a force for good. As Chambers Johnson points out -- we're in everyone's face, interfering in their business, driving them all crazy. The irony is that although we lead the world in some good areas, we also lead the world in being the worst or not so good in a lot of other ways. And like individual racism, America needs to collectively work on its ego problem; it's xenophobia; its fear and paranoia of the other -- get our heads our of the fantasy clouds and realize the shit we're standing in; we need to stop our pompous, imperial posturing and join the real human race. As Brian Wilson says: "We are not worth more, they are not worth less."

Nonetheless, a part of me holds out with optimism that Jim Hightower is right that there are enough good, ole fashioned, rebellious cusses in this country to take it back from the plutocrats -- God I hope so cause we sure are building up some real bad karma.