Sunday Roundup
In Strasbourg yesterday, the president was asked about American exceptionalism. "I believe in American exceptionalism," he began, "just as I suspect the Brits believe in British exceptionalism and the Greeks believe in Greek exceptionalism." Leaving aside that we Greeks believe our exceptionalism to be exceptional and exceptionally old, the president's answer was masterful as he went on to talk about America's core set of values, quickly pivoting to the need to recognize "that we're not always going to be right" and "that other people may have good ideas." So basically, yes, we are exceptional -- when we live up to our exceptional values. It's going to take a while to repair America's reputation -- and thus its ability to lead in the world -- but in Europe this week, Obama made an exceptional start.
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Do the people responsible for this believe they are "exceptional", Ms. Huffington?
http://mic
I watched this exchange live and it blew me away.
He does nuance like Bush does dumb
your comment was so funny that I almost blew coffee out of my nose :)
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And just when I had a big bite of raisin bran in my mouth.....
What's the big deal about regaining the world's good will? Think that will ease any burden on the USA's world leadership? Nope.
Fact is, this country has sent over 100,000 of its youth to die, and suffer many more hundreds of thousands to suffer egregious wounds, and our Treasury is now empty, actually with trillions in IOUs, all in the name of world leadership. Few other countries since WWII, except Great Britain & Australia, have aggressively aided, opting instead to hold our coat while snorting up their sleeves. NATO, our most powerful partner, is only symbollicly (sp?) with us in Afghanistan with non combatants (wow!).
Our fine president made an elegant speech during the G20 for cooperation and partnership in the fight against terrorism, along the way basically apoligizing for our supposed "arrogance," but his effort was misguided. No matter what this country does in the earned world leadership role it wil never be enough because the overwhelming number of countries are only interested in their own national interests. Regaining world respect? Yeah, right.
Yes, right.
We invaded Iraq under false pretenses. Bush cooked the books on intelligence reports so he could have his war. He and his cohorts suspended habeas corpus, tortured prisoners, corrupted the Department of Justice. Then, for good measure, he trashed the world economy.
Yes, we have a lot of work to do to regain world respect.
President Obama is off to a good start.
All while his and Cheney's cronies made vast trillions in profit from warfare.
Well said. We need to be reminded of those facts each time we "puff up" with our exceptional ism... The same can be said for the Brits, Greeks, Romans, and any nation who feels the need to lead.
The reason we won WWII was due to the strength of the international ties to and mutual respect for the United States of America. Most nations gave us a lukewarm response when we took a detour to Iraq under our former president's leadership.
It appears they knew "right away"... what we as a nation had to learn 7 years later and after the loss of over 100,000 of our precious heroes.
The world's good will is essential in restoring and maintaining our status as the GREATEST NATION ON EARTH! I am so pround of our country.
We got that reputation because we EARNED it, by standing on the side of what is right and our willingness to fight for the freedom of others.
Just by the election of President Obama- we gained tremendous respect as a nation. It is a serious err to down play the importance of goodwill between nations. We live in global times- goodwill and trust in the intelligence of our president is essential.
And this my friend, is EXACTLY RIGHT!
Not THE GREATEST, Lady, ONE among many others. Actually, if you had done any travelling in life you would know the resentment toward the USA because of comments like "we are the greatest, blah blah blah." Foreigners hear that constantly from us, resulting in a natural disgust regarding bragging.
I share your faith and trust in President Obama to do the right thing but know he'll sometimes screw up, and be man enough to acknowledgement it (as already proven). I'm already seeing indications that this nation will begin a large reduction in military forces at world wide locations -- except Afghanistan, of course. About time we start holding others' coats.
I'm from another country and I'm not so much interested in my own national interest. In fact, I think nationalism is narrow, outdated and dangerous. Rather, I don't want to be led by any other country including the US. I really enjoy the values and way of life of my own country and we don't need any other leaders. I resent some other country, including the US, claiming the right to be a world leader. Wait until the world elects you before you try to lead it.
I understand your view, but you must understand the USA's role evolved as, "let the USA do it." Of course, our military/i
Thank you, Arianna, well said
and President Obama, well said, also
this is what I have said for YEARS...we had a "good Neighbor Policy" but we were not always the "good neighbor"
I love my country but we are not always right
I love our values..bu
I have the line from the "Bionic Man" in the back of my mind : 'we can rebuild it, we can make it better than before"
((sigh)) I am such an idealist..
but lets try
See Deborah Jiang Stein's Profile
I'm part of the "we Greeks" and some other ingredients, and believe each is exceptional. But lots of us are taking on Michelle's comment, " I finally feel proud to be an American" only now it's not so scandalous.
Barack is brilliant in turning his responses into a broader overview!
When the Republicans tried to smear Michelle when she made that comment, they conveniently left off the word "more".
She said that she had never been more proud to be an American than she was at that time. Dropping the word "more" made it appear that she was saying she was never proud before which was false.
It's important to get the context right to avoid arming the right-wingers with unneeded ammunition.
They do a good enough job of making things up as it is.
It may take forever for Europes reputation to be repaired in the eyes of millioms of Americans.
Who? The Southern racists? Bitter old white males who make up the core of the Republican party?
Cute attempt at sarcasm but nobody's buying.
Just keep eating those freedom fries there, Cletus. Don't forget to wash them down with some purple kool-aid.
I am at a loss as to why the media is either not recognizing or down playing this presidents exceptional performance with foreign affairs. His every appearance adds enormous value and good will to the creditability of this country measured by the enormous fanfare that he attracts from both his peers but also the people of his peers.
Our media is extremely cloistered and inward looking. There is almost no effort made to understand the external world, even our closest ally, which is Europe. If you spend much time outside the country, and read their news media and listen to average people's views, it's a real eye opener as to how they view the US.
In Europe, it was important to mend relationships and ensure the European people are behind this President as well. On the other hand, we did not get anything of what we needed, yet. Which is ok as long as we do not let the leadership there off the hook.
We wanted to keep their markets open (unsuccessful), have them liquefy their economies (unsuccessful), lower interest rates by half a point (got a quarter point), more help in Afghanistan (unsuccessful) and they wanted a Trillion dollar IMF fund with mostly our money that they would manage (they got that), and they wanted to be the new world regulator (they were unsuccessful, thank god).
btw, the Greeks have always been exceptional. =)
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Having found out that my family started in Malta, I think the Maltisians are exceptional also.
What a fantastic clip. Amen to Arianna for picking it. You will never see that on CNN, FOX, ABC, CBS or CNBC. They are bloated, corrupt and have no sense of what is news worthy.
We certainly agree. The Media needs to clean up it's act.
Ariana.
May I suggest you read the book BLACK MASS by John Gray.
It may change the way you view our exceptional values.
As much as I know a deep philosophical discussion can't happen on blogs, it can be a place where we suggest books that get ignored by many people.
As a former PhD student in sociology of religion I think it is a very significant book. It ranks up there with the Black Swan and Shock Doctrine.
Arianna, you are so right on as usual.
Reporting these self-evident truths is what sets HP above the corporate mainstream media. With their determination to find "balance" even when it strays from the truth, they consistently fail to deliver substance to the American people.
When will you folks wake up or wise up. Every question BO is asked, is planned and every response is rehearsed or on teleprompter. You need to stop living in fantasyland, don't revert to your pre 911 mentality, and stop kissing up to the Europeans and everyone else that are only out for their own self-interests. The only way to lead is through strength with compassion, personal and national responsibility, and eliminate the individual's dependence on government. This administration, so far, is just like a cadillac..
paranoid much?
Tell me now. How does it feel to be on the wrong side of history?
Do yourself a big favor and realize that no one else is drinking that cool-aid anymore.
And - have a nice day.
What Disney Channel are you watching?!?!
Tell you what. Lets just use every failed idea of the past and re-do it, just to make sure they are failed ideas.
By the way, how does it feel to be a minority? To have your entire ideology fail, and everything you know to be true, to actually be proven wrong? How does it feel to know you have been lied too for all these years, and you fell for it?
At least you are still entitled to an opinion, no matter how little credibility you have.
It doesn't get that it's been lied to because it's religion is ignorance.
Driven a CTS-V recently?
I am finally proud of what an American president is doing.Thes
I am new to this site, came to it via a DrudgeReport link. I'm thinking maybe it was a mistake to come here.
Are we so dependant upon the good will of Europe that without it we cannot recognize our own worth? Did we set out to become leader of the free world, or was it thrust upon us? Our forefathers warned us to beware of foreign entanglements, didn't they?
Can the eurpoean countries, which existed for centuries before the US was formed, no longer sustain themselves unless the US is there to ... what? ... prop them up? ... spill American blood to defend them from their enemies? ... give them our inter net and other technologies developed through our space
program? ... buy their goods? ... defend them from religious persecution and ethnic cleansing? ... by default, do our very best to prevent terrorism from knocking on their doors? ... accept their "huddled masses yearning to be free?"
Perhaps europeans living in the US repatrioted en masse during the Bush years, and the liberal press merely failed to report on it? Do any of you commentors know any europeans who went back to their native soil because of Bush/Cheney?
What did Obama get europeans to agree to that he reportedly asked them to do?
What is wrong with you, drooling over the ability of Obama to snooker the european people because he gave a schmaltzy non-answer to ONE question?
Spineless people do not make this Americans feel confident
What's Drudge Report?
What have you done to help the country? Specifically, not from your keyboard. Put up or shut up. Whom do you help? Do you work in a soup kitchen? Do you help the homeless? Do you read to the young cancer patients? What exactly put the steal in your spine that America should behold you? I'll wait ...
We beleive you when you say you came here via "Drudge" link.
You can go back now.
Firstly, the US is the leader of the world and has been for quite a long time. There is no changing of that. The whole theme that President Obama was talking about this week is that we must be unified with all countries of the world, despite our differences, to confront the threats from terrorists and to try to fix the global economy. Secondly, his words and actions while in Europe, were the first steps in re-engaging all countries to follow our lead rather than see our actions as only greed and self-interest. We absolutely must have the entire world come together as ONE force to fight terrorism.
This is what is called intelligence. You may not recognize it just yet because you have not seen it in the White House for the past eight years.
But, if you would just take a moment to read what he has written, listen to what he has said and pay attention to the examples he displays, you may find that he knows what he is doing.
I'm not sure what your comment about "spineless people" means.
It's called sanity and reality. Welcome to the real world.
Your world is now called, the minority.
It's going to take a while to repair America's reputation -- and thus its ability to lead in the world --
Lets get one thing straight right now, America will NEVER lead the world again, as for the reputation, that was tarnished decades ago.
ah,,"The rise and Fall" scenario
history repeats itself
Over the years I have been reminded of other world leaders..l
GWB was our "Felipe II "
the one who contributed to the decline
now we will need a "Generacion de '98 " to examine our worth, our validity
the "I'm Ok, you're OK" self analysis
and find ourselves again and our direction and place in the World
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