when disaster strikes, one ship will appear off your shore to help . that is a us navy ship.
yes we are exceptional .
As a percentage of Gross National Income (GNI) the US is the 18th highest foreign assistance provider.
Yes, but there will be US Marines on board to jump off and help! (had to get that in, sorry)
KK . no sorry needed . our military is the most exceptional force ever assembled . dad is retired USMC..
And the most terrifying--cluster bombs and drones.
Should a military not be terrifying? What would be the point of that exactly?
Well, as you might have noticed drone strikes are controversial and, as you might or might not know, nearly all civilized nations, except for the US, have signed a treaty outlawing the use of cluster bombs. Obama has declined to sign on behalf of the US on the advice of the Pentagon.
Convention on Cluster Munitions
Main article: Convention on Cluster Munitions
Taking effect on August 1, 2010, the "Convention on Cluster Munitions"[71] bans the stockpiling, use and transfer of virtually all existing cluster bombs and provides for the clearing up of unexploded munitions. It had been signed by 108 countries, of which 38 had ratified it by the affected date, but many of the world's major military powers including the United States, Russia and China are not signatories to the treaty.[72][73][74][75]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cluster_munition
http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2008 … ombs_N.htm
I just don't care what other countries have signed onto. I know liberals think that stuff matters, but I happen to think we should watch our own backs first. Lots of countries sign onto things that are not in our best interest and we decline to do so (Kyoto treaty anyone?), which is the purpose of our government. You may not agree, but it is their job to do what's best for the country, not what some people may want them to do.
How do you feel about poison gas? Is that okay with you, too? Whatever works is okay?
How about waterboarding? Dropping suspects out of helicopters?
Wow, I don't think I said that "whatever works is okay", and we were not talking about poison gas. Maybe I'm uninformed and ignorant but I don't know that we still gas people these days.
Ever seen what a cluster bomb does? The clusters break up into thousands of explosives, many of these don't explode and are left to go off as soon as disturbed, people in Vietnam are still being maimed and killed by cluster bombs triggered during farming etc.
There is a reason countries choose to sign these treaties... because they judge (as we should) that protecting innocents is important and want to take steps to do that. The US still has massive stockpiles of Gas weapons which most other nations have outlawed and obviously cluster bombs are the same.
US's refusal to sign and ratify the cluster bomb treaty could be considered a sign of our country's exceptionalism!!
Here's a list of the countries who are parties to the treaty:
Afghanistan 3 December 2008 9 September 2011 1 March 2012
Albania 3 December 2008 16 June 2009 1 August 2010
Antigua and Barbuda 16 July 2010 23 August 2010 1 February 2011
Austria 3 December 2008 2 April 2009 1 August 2010
Belgium 3 December 2008 22 December 2009 1 August 2010
Bosnia and Herzegovina 3 December 2008 7 September 2010 1 March 2011
Botswana 3 December 2008 27 June 2011 1 December 2011
Bulgaria 3 December 2008 6 April 2011 1 October 2011
Burkina Faso 3 December 2008 16 February 2010 1 August 2010
Burundi 3 December 2008 25 September 2009 1 August 2010
Cameroon 15 December 2009 12 July 2012 1 January 2013
Cape Verde 3 December 2008 19 October 2010 1 April 2011
Chile 3 December 2008 16 December 2010 1 June 2011
Comoros 3 December 2008 28 July 2010 1 January 2011
Cook Islands 3 December 2008 23 August 2011 1 February 2012
Costa Rica 3 December 2008 28 April 2011 1 October 2011
Côte d'Ivoire 4 December 2008 12 March 2012 1 September 2012
Croatia 3 December 2008 17 August 2009 1 August 2010
Czech Republic 3 December 2008 22 September 2011 1 March 2012
Denmark[A] 3 December 2008 2 February 2010 1 August 2010
Dominican Republic 10 November 2009 20 December 2011 1 June 2012
Ecuador 3 December 2008 11 May 2010 1 November 2010
El Salvador 3 December 2008 10 January 2011 1 July 2011
Fiji 3 December 2008 28 May 2010 1 November 2010
France 3 December 2008 25 September 2009 1 August 2010
Germany 3 December 2008 8 July 2009 1 August 2010
Ghana 3 December 2008 3 February 2011 1 August 2011
Grenada 29 June 2011 1 December 2011
Guatemala 3 December 2008 3 November 2010 1 May 2011
Guinea-Bissau 4 December 2008 29 November 2010 1 May 2011
Honduras 3 December 2008 21 March 2012 1 September 2012
Hungary[33] 3 December 2008 3 July 2012 1 January 2013
Ireland 3 December 2008 3 December 2008 1 August 2010
Italy 3 December 2008 21 September 2011 1 March 2012
Japan 3 December 2008 14 July 2009 1 August 2010
Laos 3 December 2008 18 March 2009 1 August 2010
Lebanon 3 December 2008 5 November 2010 1 May 2011
Lesotho 3 December 2008 28 May 2010 1 November 2010
Lithuania 3 December 2008 24 March 2011 1 September 2011
Luxembourg 3 December 2008 10 July 2009 1 August 2010
Macedonia 3 December 2008 8 October 2009 1 August 2010
Malawi 3 December 2008 7 October 2009 1 August 2010
Mali 3 December 2008 30 January 2010 1 August 2010
Malta 3 December 2008 24 September 2009 1 August 2010
Mauritania 19 April 2010 1 February 2012 1 August 2012
Mexico 3 December 2008 6 May 2009 1 August 2010
Moldova 3 December 2008 16 February 2010 1 August 2010
Monaco 3 December 2008 21 September 2010 1 March 2011
Montenegro 3 December 2008 25 January 2010 1 August 2010
Mozambique 3 December 2008 14 March 2011 1 September 2011
Netherlands[b] 3 December 2008 23 February 2011 1 August 2011
New Zealand[C] 3 December 2008 22 December 2009 1 August 2010
Nicaragua 3 December 2008 2 November 2009 1 August 2010
Niger 3 December 2008 2 June 2009 1 August 2010
Norway 3 December 2008 3 December 2008 1 August 2010
Panama 3 December 2008 29 November 2010 1 May 2011
Portugal 3 December 2008 9 March 2011 1 September 2011
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 23 September 2009 29 October 2010 1 April 2011
Samoa 3 December 2008 28 April 2010 1 October 2010
San Marino 3 December 2008 10 July 2009 1 August 2010
Senegal 3 December 2008 3 August 2011 1 February 2012
Seychelles 13 April 2010 20 May 2010 1 November 2010
Sierra Leone 3 December 2008 3 December 2008 1 August 2010
Slovenia 3 December 2008 19 August 2009 1 August 2010
Spain 3 December 2008 17 June 2009 1 August 2010
Swaziland 16 September 2011 1 March 2012
Sweden 3 December 2008 23 April 2012 1 October 2012
Switzerland 3 December 2008 17 July 2012 1 January 2013
Togo 3 December 2008 22 June 2012 1 December 2012
Trinidad and Tobago 21 September 2011 1 March 2012
Tunisia 12 January 2009 28 September 2010 1 March 2011
United Kingdom 3 December 2008 4 May 2010 1 November 2010
Uruguay 3 December 2008 24 September 2009 1 August 2010
Vatican City 3 December 2008 3 December 2008 1 August 2010
Zambia
Actually those are just the states parties, original signatories are not on the list so there are actually a lot more signatories (Australia for example) from the looks of it we are the only first world nation not to sign it.
Lesson learnt.These forums have got more to do with a Derek and Clive skit on youtube than an intelligent discussion.The horror,the horror..
I doubt many here will know Peter Cook & Dudley Moore, Nick, but I just wanted you to know that you connected with another fan of the absurdist dialogue—so thanks and don't get discouraged with how exceptionally empty-headed and vapid some Americans can be. There's fun to be had, nevertheless.
sorry bro. the world we live in. I tried my best to tickle your inquiry. It was a very good question and one worth pursuing. I hope my comments were helpful to you.
the phrase ''exceptional nation'' comes from Alexis De Tourqueville in the 1830's BTW.
You confused the issue. American Exceptionalism and the notion of America as an exceptional nation (in the title of this thread) are two entirely different things.
The idea of American Exceptionalism to me is suspect because I don't believe that America was constituted in any special way. It lacked an aristocracy (lucky beak) but in every other way it was just another European nation. It later aggressively acquired a massive land mass (as European nations are always keen to do). And even later acquired a massive population.
It certainly is an exceptional nation now, because of it's size, population and business prowess. When it declares itself the leader of the Western world no one can disagree (money buys a lot of gun barrels and missiles which certainly stifle dissent).
The question is: does the US deserve such a leadership role on any other grounds than military power? Is the US equipped morally, socially and intellectually to guide us through the next hundred years?
I'm fine with that label too, though I see my behavior as closer to that of a gadfly, Sassy. But you can't insult people and then feel hurt because they have labeled your behaviors accurately. Thinking that you are communicating is very different than successfully communicating. I wonder if you really know what you're expressing because you seem surprised and annoyed by the responses you receive.
Actually, I'm more amused than anything.
lol @insulting people
"xenophobe"
"bigot" (reiterated by a few)
"troll"
But I'm insulting people? lmao Okay.
Yeah, right keep up appearances at all costs—we don't want reveal a bruised ego.
and . . . "Where on Earth did you get that bit of misinformation about Progressives?"
It is not misinformation. It is fact. Of course, as I said, it was the early Progressive movement. Not saying any of those goals remain in these times. The Early Progressive Movement was , after all, faith based.
Are you conflating political progressives with the Progressive Christian movement of the 1800's? If so you're mistaken, Sassy.
Sassy, I don't think the wizard was trying to fight with you. I think he was actually wondering where you got the info so he could look it up for himself and see what he can learn. I know I was. Simply saying it is "fact" gets us nowhere.
http://reason.com/archives/2006/05/05/w … -reformers
Yeah, it's not as clean as you'd like to believe. Now, it also gives some reasons for how it happened, why, etc. And, to be fair, I believe that it mostly occurred in Southern Progressives but I could be wrong there.
@tyler I didn't think Wizard was trying to fight with me. I only wanted to confirm that I was not implying those were goals of modern Progressives.
Yeah.....you certainly won't get anything Christian out of the Progressives, that's for sure.
In my experience many Christians are progressives and vice versa.
Sorry Sassy, and not to belabor the point, but your link is a right-wing hatchet job that is a perfect example of bad scholarship and bad journalism because it isn't remotely close to the standards of professional objectivity and integrety.
Damon W. Root is a young pup and pseudo-scholar weened on the teat of conservative propaganda mills and agitprop outlets. If you click on his "credentials" you'll see that he has only been sanctioned by overtly biased organizations that only your side takes to be "fair & balanced."
The article tries to link everything bad and evil that happened in that era to the label "progressive" and it's oh so obvious and laughable.
Don't be fooled, these people have no integrity or objectivity—though I'm sure you won't take my word for it.
I spent thirty years in academia and Mr. Root is, in the vernacular of the period, a rapscallion!
Ecce Homo . . . .
@WoW I have to say, I am not familiar with him specifically and am willing to take your word for what he is. It is not the first place that I had read such claims though as I was studying up on the Progressive Movement (actually fact checking another comment elsewhere about something else). I do know that they were initially faith based, sought to change others' behavior to what they felt acceptable and traditional and brought us Prohibition. I wasn't really insulting the movement either as I also know they brought us things like child labor laws, better working conditions for everyone, parks in the cities and tried to clean up the tenements. Nothing is perfect though.
Thanks for your response, Sassy—ours is a frenetic culture where everyone, it seems, is angling for their fifteen minutes of fame. We all need to slow down and become more aware.
And to my great surprise and to further my awareness, I just came upon this interesting piece on Paul Ryan by a reporter at Fox News.
http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2012/08/ … on-ticket/
Sometimes you have to read behind things. All of his sources come from places like the Washington Post. The studies are conducted by Brookings and his friends, political allies of the Obama campaign.
Now, there are things in Ryan's plan that Romney has already changed. I do know that while those loopholes are to be closed, they are only being closed for top earners and not for everyone. So that claim is false. I haven't examined the Medicaid part that closely yet (it is long and there are different safeguards and it works with other plans like Medicare etc) to make an informed comment on that part.
WRT labels and taking things too seriously, this is a disturbing piece of news . . .
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2012/08/14 … forcement/
Cat Hung At Obama/Biden Sign – Prompts Visit From Law Enforcement - August 14, 2012
Yeah. There are crazies from both sides that really need to get a grip no doubt.
America could be an exceptional nation but, my dear friend how american can be a NATION? American can be exceptional native.
The USA is exceptional in many ways. First, our country has always been "free" meaning never had authoritarian, colonial or invader control of the population. There is no other country in the world that has our form of government. America generally has a homogenized culture. Read a profound statement on this matter at >> http://thejimmyzshowblog.blogspot.com/2 … rican.html
''There is no other country in the world that has our form of government"
Cite evidence please.There are plenty of other democratic,secular republics in the world.
by Alexander A. Villarasa 10 years ago
In an OP-ed piece on The New York Times, the Russian ad infinitum president Vladimir Putin, slammed the concept of American Exceptionalism, saying that it is extremely dangerrous to tell people that they are exceptional, no matter what the motivation is. I suppose he was just being a...
by Susan Reid 11 years ago
I read this in my local paper yesterday. What do you think?Is "exceptionalism" a good word or a bad word?Does it describe what America was? What America is today?By Kathleen ParkerSunday, January 30, 2011 He didn't say it. That word: "exceptional." Barack Obama described an...
by Grace Marguerite Williams 9 years ago
With Obama as president, America does not need any enemies. In fact, Obama is America's enemy. First, he blasted the Constitution as an outmoded document. He showed irreverence for the American flag, refusing to salute the flag. He furthermore embodied an...
by Chaplain Bernell Wesley 8 years ago
Where in the Bible does it say that the Jews are God's "chosen people"?Isaiah 19:25 says Egypt is God's people and Israel is His inheritance? Where in the Bible does it say that the Jews are God's "chosen people"?
by ga anderson 2 years ago
Pulling an IslandMom's quote from another thread . . . "...to believe in the shared idea of what America should be without abandoning the struggle to right its wrongs."A recent news blurb refocused this thought for me. It was something to do with a recent shooting in which four Sikhs were...
by Sooner28 11 years ago
http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/arc … sm/254534/A shorty history of the term, and the irony of the American right insisting Obama use it more often.
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