Defining American Exceptionalism, If We Can

YOU HEAR THIS TERM "American exceptionalism", and unless you happen to be a mind numbed right wing ideologue with a propensity to wear patriotism like a badge of honor, you wonder just what in the hell "American exceptionalism" means. True, the United States is an exception to much. United nations agreements and international environmental protection treaties come to mind. also, decisions rendered by the World Court and the International Monetary Fund do not apply to the U.S.A., if the corpoarte masters who run America decide that they don't. America excepts itself from much, most notably, international law. But is there any meaningful way in which the United States is "exceptionally" superior? Superiority is what the term implies, that, and arrogance. With regard to superiority, the term may not mean much. Obama had a funny way of putting it: "French exceptionalism, German exceptionalism, whatever." Obama the humble, Obama the humorous. The term seems to imply that the United States is indeed superior in some way, or thinks it is, and those who think that it is, to the extent that they think about anything, might be hard pressed to provide supporting factual evidence. In what way, exactly, is it superior? Exceptionally arrogant? Exceptionally violent? Exceptionally imperialistic? All of the above, beyond dispute. Otherwise, America is barely in the top ten countries in per capita wealth, barely in the top twenty in educational attainment, and not even in the top one hundred in overall quality of popular culture, as measured by intellectual and artistic level. As evidence, I give you the Kardashians. I give you American television. So much for economic, artistic, and cultural exceptionalism. Our American exceptionalism must remain tied to the concept of arrogance, the extent of our domestic violence, and the reach of our military might, as measured by global imperialism. Better yet, why not just conclude that the term "American exceptionalism" is vague at best, meaningless or dishonest at worst, and is best reserved for use by fawning politicians and sycophantic, prattling, talking right wing radio mouths. Unless, of course, an American baseball team happens to win the "World" Series, which, in most cases, seems like a good bet. At least America is exceptional at something worthwhile, at least, as long as teams from other nations, other than the Toronto Blue jays, are excluded from the competition.