Abstract
The author of the article “The Myth of American Exceptionalism “ describes America as a country that has been on the track of chest-thumping, boasting and claiming credit where it does not deserve while at the same time failing to accept its failures. While it is undoubtedly clear that America has been a successful nation, this success can be claimed by other factors which don’t worth making it unique as the Americans like to praise themselves. The claims that they behave better than other nations, that their success is based on its special genius or that it is responsible for most of the good things in the world are far much-exaggerated praises that do not truly reflect their actions. Despite being in a higher global position, America is just like other nations still competing to win the global economic and political dominance, and not as unique as the Americans love to call themselves.
Myths and Supporting Evidence
The first myth that the author describes is the way American leaders refer to the United States as a unique state that is different from other nations and thus requires them to take on some special burdens. However, the idea of nations declaring themselves as unique or special is just but a norm or culture of nations seeking superiority. Just like the United States is declaring itself as unique, many other great powers have used the same tactic by declaring themselves as superior to their opponents. For example, nations like British had put themselves in the same position when they thought they were bearing the white man’s burden (Walt, 2011). Similarly, Portugal thought it was promoting some special mission despite its imperial activities having received any significant recognition. At the same time, officials of the former Soviet Union also had a belief that they were heading the world towards a special mission. Therefore, the United States declaring themselves to be unique is just a norm that any other country had used to make them think they are special when they weren’t.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
The myth that the United States behave better than other countries, and that it is a uniquely virtuous nation that loves peace, liberty and respects the rule of law, as well as human rights, is a far much-exaggerated claim. Several actions by the United States have confirmed the opposite of these praises. The conquest of Philippines that left between 200000 and 400000 people dead is a show that the United States does not love peace as it claims (Walt, 2011). The recent backing of Contra wars in Nicaragua that killed 30, 000 people and the US involvement in the deaths of 250, 000 Muslims over the last decades as well as deaths from sanctions imposed to Iraq in the 1990s. These engagements have proved that United States does not act as it claims and doesn’t respect human rights, neither does it love peace. The ongoing crackdown on terrorists by US has resulted to the death of a large number of innocent civilians. This is further a confirmation that the nation does not act unique as it claims, but just chest thumping. Any country that loves peace and respects human rights cannot be involved in the loss of such a large number of people.
The myth that the success that United States have enjoyed is due to its special genius based on the political foresight of the founding fathers, its constitutional virtues and liberty as well as hard work may not hold any truth. While it is true that United States has had success, the contributing factors may not be what they claim. American success can be linked with luck which results from being located in an area endowed with sufficient natural resources as well as being traversed by many navigable rivers (Walt, 2011). These natural resources have been at the key factor in the success of United States of America. Similarly, Americans were lucky that the great powers of Europe were at war for the most part which may have facilitated the expansion of America across the continent. It cannot be denied that America did other good things that made it rise to its position, but fortune also plays a significant role in the rise of the nation, and not just due to its special genius as they claim.
Another myth that United States is responsible for most of the good things in the world is equally taking credit that is not deserved. May claims that United States is the future of freedom, open economies and democracy are credits that cannot be proved. Other statements that America is the greatest gift that the world has ever received is also giving credit that does not belong. While it is true that United States has made significant contributions towards peace and stability in the world, it has also facilitated wars. Most wars in Europe, the vanquishing of Nazi Germany and the defeat of Hitler was done by the Soviet Union (Walt, 2011). Also, NATO and the Marshall Plan played a significant role in the success Europe in the World War II. At the same time, anti-Soviet adversaries made significant contributions in the Cold War yet America believe they won the war by their own efforts. Furthermore, America has been over the past half a century produced greenhouse gases which have had adverse effects on the global environment.
A mythical claim by Americans that God is on their side, and that the US has been ordained to lead the rest of the world is a claim without basis. The belief that the country is guided by God and it cannot fail is far from reality. Despite having made many successes, the country has had many setbacks and blunders which it fails to accept. Various policies such as tax cuts, corruption and unsuccessful wars are some of the failures that US have experienced (Walt, 2011). While confidence is important for a community, it is unrealistic for a nation to start thinking that they cannot fail.
Exceptional Aspects of American Society
One of the most exceptional aspects of America is the scientific and technological achievement. America has one of the leading nations in technological development. They have embraced modern technology in almost all their activities giving rise to efficiency and effectiveness in most of its engagements. It is undoubtedly true that technology in America has gone into another level and this is something they obviously deserve praise. The US military has always been considered as high tech force which applies modern technology in military activities. In fact, technology is one of the contributing factors towards the rise of America into the global economy.
Political stability is another exceptional aspect of the United States of America that has made it reach a global position in economic development. Political stability creates a favorable environment for investment and other economic activities thus promoting economic development. Currently, United States of America is known as the superpower because of its stable economy that has resulted from the country’s political stability. This is a nation that has not experienced wars that normally result from political instability.
United States has been exceptional in the role it has constantly played in the contribution towards global peace and stability over the past years. The country has been involved in many mission attempts to restore peace in several parts of the world. Missions such as Marshall Plan and the creation and management of Bretton Woods system are some of the areas where the United States have been exceptional in ensuring there are peace and stability across the world. While it is unrealistic to say that all good things happening in the world is as a result of contributions of United States, it is important to recognize that the nation has been actively made contributions in areas of peace and stability across the world. The continued existence of U.S military in Europe and the Far East are also some of the major attempts by the United States to promote stability in these regions and ensure there is peace. Furthermore, United States has been exceptional in calling for democracy and promoting for the respect of human rights across many countries in the world. The country has made a significant contribution towards the achievement of democracy in many parts of the world. While the country may be criticized for trying to take credit for all good things happening across the world, it undoubtedly needs to be praised for the role it has played in enhancing democracy across many countries in the world.
Exceptional Cultures that Americans can Learn from
One of the exceptional cultures that Americans can learn from is generosity. This is the quality of being kind and willing to offer value to others and often defined by one’s selflessness. Generosity is useful in the community because if people have the heart to care and give others value, then we can build a healthy community. Generosity makes a community feel better about themselves, recognize the importance of everyone and the need to provide for those who lack. Reports show that America has a gap in income inequality where some people are rich while others are poor. Adopting this culture can help root out this problem because people will be willing to help others. Practicing generosity requires one to offer value to another person, accept appreciation and accepting the generosity of others. Generosity is an exceptional culture that the people of America can learn from.
Hospitality is the relationship that occurs between a host and a guest where the host gives the guest a warm and kind reception. This is an exceptional culture that the people of America can learn from. It is important to give visitors and foreigners a kind and warm welcome so that they feel that their presence is valued. Hospitality as a culture can be significant for a country in building its relationship with citizens of other countries who will feel being well treated by the citizens of the home country. It is a good feeling to go to a strange place and receive a warm reception. One feels important, secure and at home. It is a good culture to adopt especially to attract tourists and even foreign investors.
Justice is another exceptional culture that the people of America can learn from. Justice involves the act of fairness and being just to all. It ensures that there are fairness and equal treatment for all people in the society. A society with justice respects the rule of law obeys human rights and ensures that there is fairness in all dealings in the society. It promotes peace, harmony and unity within the community because no one will feel to have been treated unfairly. Justice system makes reference to the laws of the society, and anyone who feels to have received unfair treatment or offended can seek justice from the institutions concerned. This can be an important culture in developing a peaceful community where people live in unity and respect.
America do more Harm than Good for Humanity
Despite having made several attempts to fight for human rights in many countries across the world, America can still be considered to do more harm than good to humanity. Over the past many years, the country has been on several occasions accused of meddling in the affairs of other countries and causing loss of lives and destruction of properties. An example is the bombing of Iraq, Libya and Afghanistan which left many lives lost. The United States has fought many wars, with its wartime being rarely a model of restraint. Between 1899 and 1902, United States conquest of the Philippines led to the death of between 200,000 to 400,000, most of them being innocent civilians (Walt, 2011). This is clear evidence that the country has led to deaths of more people than thus harm to humanity. During the World War II, the bombing by the United States of America led to the loss of lives for more than 330,000 Japanese innocent civilians. This is yet another way in which the United States has been causing more harm than good to the humanity. Despite claiming to protect human rights and promote peace by even leading in peace talks in many countries, the country has been engaged in many wars that have risked the lives of many people.
During the Indochina war, United States dropped over six million tons of bomb which included napalm and other lethal defoliants which are said to have been responsible for the death of close to one million people. Making close to a million people lose their lives, the majority being innocent civilians is indeed a threat to humanity and violation of people’s rights to live. According to Walt (2011), United States backed Contra war in Nicaragua which led to deaths of about 30,000 people. More recently and in the past decades, America has been responsible either directly or indirectly for the loss of lives of 250,000 Muslims. This is yet another harm that the country has caused to humanity. During the 1990s, the country imposed sanctions against Iraq, which led to deaths of an unknown number of people, and this was followed by deaths of more than 10,000 people when the United States invaded Iraq in 2003 (Walt, 2011). These are further deaths that have resulted as a result of the country meddling in the affairs of other states, making many innocent civilians lose their lives.
While the country talks good of the human rights and international law, its actions have not shown any signs of adherence to these values. Following the rising rate of terror activities globally, the country declared war against terror in which it has its special forces in more than five countries in the name of fighting terrorists (Walt, 2011). As a result of these military operations, many lives have been lost, especially the innocent civilians. Terrorists are a dangerous group and a threat to global security, but effective measures need to be in place to fight this group. The war against terror cannot be used as an excuse to make thousands of innocent civilians lose their lives as have been done by the United States. Furthermore, the country has been on record for collaborating with dictators who do have no respect for human rights and who have led to the death of many people. People such as Hosni Mubarak who violated the rights of many citizens and led to the loss of many lives was a friend of the United States showing that the country can work with leaders who expose harm to humanity (Walt, 2011). Despite the many efforts that the United States has made to fight for humanity, the records show that the country has done more harm than good to humanity by leading in wars that have led to the loss of over a million people globally.
Reference
Walt, S. M. (2011). The myth of American exceptionalism. Foreign Policy, 189, 72-75.
