"American Exceptionalism" was a term first coined by German communists in the 1920s to reference how the rise of communism in the U.S. was an exception to how communism arose in Europe. Some thirty years later it became an expression of a patriotic belief in the United States being providentially destined to be "A City on a Hill." This was based on sermon written by John Winthrop called a "Model of Christian Charity" delivered in 1630.
As an Englishman, American exceptionalism was not onWinthrop's mind when he wrote his sermon. He referenced a "City on a Hill" to reflect what Jesus taught in his Sermon on the Mount as recorded in Matthew 5:14. Winthrop used the concept of "City on a Hill" as a metaphor for establishing what he considered a community governed by Christian principles. Winthrop's sermon metaphor went largely ignored until the end of the 19th Century.
It wasn't until the Cold War that Winthrop's sermon used as the historical basis for what was originally a 20th century communist term. There is no small amount of irony in a communist term becoming a primary patriotic article of faith by staunch anti-communist politicians; especially, those currently associated with red hat MAGA Republicans.
American Exceptionalism is part of a mythic belief system that includes other terminologies; such as, Peace Through Strength and Manifest Destiny. I have addressed Peace through Strength in my previous post and will address Manifest Destiny in the my next post. These terms form a credal trinity of what one can consider the United State's national religion, "Americanism." American exceptionalism is its core tenant.
The fact is the United States is no more exceptional than any other nation in the world. Every nation is unique with regard to its history and culture. Every nation can point to exceptional moments in its history. This is true of the United States also. As such, it is worth looking at one moment which, in my opinion, was a most exceptional moment.
A MOST EXCEPTIONAL MOMENT
A truly exceptional moment in U.S. and world history took place shortly after the end of World War II when most of Europe was in shambles. Eastern Europe was largely under Soviet control with communism on the rise in Italy and France. The threat of a communist takeover of western Europe was imminent, as was the possibility of needing military action prevent it; something no nation could afford, including the United States. Yes, it is true the United States had the only nuclear weapon at the time, but the awesome destruction it wreaked on the people of Japan created a new reality that was seared into the minds of the world's political and military leaders.
There was one U.S. military and political leader who came up with an extraordinary idea of rebuilding war torn Europe including the United States' former enemies, Italy, Germany, and its emerging nemesis, the Soviet Union. That person was five star General George C. Marshall, one of the most decorated generals in U.S. history who was Chief of Army under President Roosevelt and Secretary of War and of State under President Truman.
In a speech delivered at Harvard University on June 5, 1947, then Secretary of State Marshall delivered in what was described as a low monotone voice and what most considered an unremarkable speech at the time a proposal to rebuild Europe. No one picked up on it in the U.S.. The New York Times made no mention of it nor did other news outlets give it thought. The person who picked up on it was the British Foreign Secretary, Ernest Bevin who was listening to Marshall's speech on BBC radio. Without Bevin's attention, Marshall's suggestion of rebuilding Europe might never have been realized, since Marshall did not discuss his proposal with President Truman prior to delivering his speech.
The Marshall Plan, as it became known, changed the history of the world by saving Europe from self-destruction after the war by an extraordinary requirement that relied on all European nations participating in to get along, including with their sworn enemies like France and Germany, England and Germany and so on. The plan was very complicated. Most U. S. citizens today are largely ignorant of the plan or its role in saving Europe and making the United States one of the most powerful nations in world history.
I personally remember growing up hearing people say that the European nations owed the United States financial remuneration for all the help we gave them after World War II. The fact of the matter is the Marshall plan consisted of complex financial arrangements in which the the U.S. backed the currencies of the participating nations. So that when citizens, cities, and nations purchased American goods, they paid in the currencies they were familiar with, which would then be converted back to U.S. dollars and paid directly to U.S. corporations who manufactured the goods needed to rebuild Europe.
In part this approach was a face saving method for those nations participating to preserve the national pride of its citizens. U.S. corporations and manufactures profited by receiving U.S. dollars for their products. In turn they were taxed, at a rate of 30% to 50% during the Eisenhower administration, which allowed the Eisenhower Administration to build the United State's twentieth century infrastructure. It was a win/win/win for all parties concerned.
The Marshall Plan was an exceptional; in that, it not only made the United States exceptional but also every nation who participated in it. It took a great deal of diplomacy, commitment, and determination on the part of all the nations involved to make it a success. As a result, the Marshall plan built lasting alliances between the U.S. and its European partners. It helped to the create NATO. It also planted the seeds of the European Union by realizing that putting aside both old and recent rivalries nations can work together to build a brighter future.
The Marshall Plan was also a rare moment in United States history; in that, it resulted in a bipartisan effort on the part of Democrats and Republicans to see it realized. The Truman administration sought the best diplomats and corporate leaders in the United States regardless of their party affiliations to make. In some cases, corporate leaders gave up their lucrative positions and made personal financial sacrifices in order to help lead and make the plan work. What made the Marshall plan exceptional is that it not only demonstrated a spirit of international cooperation but also a spirit of bipartisanship in the U.S..
THAT WAS THEN, WHAT ABOUT NOW?
That spirit did not last long. Political fear-mongering during the McCarthy era in which Sen. Joe McCarthy from Wisconsin played on fears of Communism becoming a political threat in the United States by promoting the idea of "the enemy within." The notion of American Exceptionalism became a part of the United State's patriotic lexicon and an article of faith associated with Christian Nationalism and the MAGA movement.
American Exceptionalism is tainted with a divine purpose akin to the notion of the divine right of kings. This is particularly evident in the current Trump regime. Whereas the Marshall Plan connected the United State's national welfare to the welfare of other nations and whose spirit survived through programs like the Peace Corps in the Kennedy era and USAID, the Trump regime utilizes the concept of its "divine mandate" to do whatever the President Trump's gut tells him to do.
Within the first year of President Trump's second term, the United States is finding itself isolated from its former allies, not through in accordance with MAGA platform of avoiding entanglement with foreign affairs but by distancing our allies the opposite by dictating his desires to annex Canada and take Greenland. President Trump not only believes he can tell United State's citizens what they must do but also he can dictate what other nations in the world must do, including our enemies. American exceptionalism is coming to mean something ominous on the world stage. Secretary Hegseth and President Trump do not have a microbe of compassion between them for the suffering of others they are causing. American Exceptionalism, as understood today by the nations of the world, is an ideology to fear, not embrace.
THE NEED TO DEBUNK AMERICAN EXCEPTIONALISM
The immediate solution to this exceptionally bizarre and tragic situation is for the Republicans in Congress to set aside business as usual and put an end to President Trump's tyranny by funding agencies that truly protect the United State's and our allies interests, to stop terrorizing U.S. cities and towns with masked ICE agents, to end a war that they did not approve, and by paying TSA employees who are critical to our national security, etc.. I cannot and do not believe that all congressional Republicans are so naive and so duped by his audacity as to think they can continue to carry out President Trump's gut-born plans without permanently damaging our relations with long-standing allies and putting at risk our constitutional republic they are sworn to defend.
Congressional Republicans helped create the very bogeyman they are scared of by not speaking truth to power. Likewise, they are afraid of him because they are afraid to speak truth to their constituent, unlike Sen. John McCain did in his presidential bid against President Barack Obama during the 2012 presidential election. During a campaign stop in Lakeville, Minnesota, on October 10, 2008, John McCain addressed the concerns of a man who did not trust Obama and an elderly woman who believed President Obama was an Arab. McCain gently and respectfully told the man he could trust Obama if he was elected president and told the woman that she was incorrect. McCain exemplified personal integrity and a commitment to truth regardless of the personal cost. John McCain was a truly exceptional person who will be long remembered for his integrity.
It is up to the Republicans in Congress to put aside their fears of Donald Trump and his vindictive sycophants. They need to inform their constituents by telling them the truth that they have been bamboozled by a bogeyman. Instead of avoiding town hall meetings where they are faced with questions they cannot truthfully answer, they should sincerely listening to all their constituents and be committed to asking for their suggestions and solutions and carrying them back to congress. That would be a truly exceptional moment.
A CLOSING THOUGHT
American Exceptionalism is a vacuous ideology that is used to promote the old notion of "My country, right or wrong" as one's proper patriotic attitude. As an ideology, it does not produce exceptional moments. Beliefs in ideologies are like trying to think something into existence. Being exceptional in the world in which we live must be measured by a commitment to realizing the common good for all.
Norm
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