Chris Jepson: American exceptionalism

I recall from my earliest grade school classes in American history that what separated America from the rest of the world was, simply put, distance. It really wasn’t much more complicated than that. We were an ocean away from the autocratic European monarchies as well as the “decadent” Orient. Oh, you could toss in that our white ancestors arrived on a pristine continent of unimaginable size with unbelievably abundant natural resources and that they fortuitously encountered only “primitive” populations of low-tech natives (appropriate for subjugation and elimination). It was an Eden for the birth of the new American.

Today, there is much debate over whether or not Americans or our American experience are exceptional. There are a number of definitions for the word “exceptional” but three come to mind: (1) unusual, not typical or (2) unusually good, outstanding or, for a little gallows humor, (3) mentally or physically disabled. I like the irony associated with the mentally disabled as the truly exceptional American. Is it possible that that is what folks who assert Americans are an exceptional people are really referring to? Probably not.

I’ve often thought it egocentric for Americans to claim “they” are exceptional vis-à-vis the rest of Earth’s humanity. Why am I particularly exceptional from say, a Syrian immigrant fleeing the ravages of war? Or, really, Americans are more exceptional than Mexicans because “we” won the Mexican-American War of 1848 and now Latinos (often illegal immigrants) pick our vegetables, roof our homes and mow our lawns?

I do believe America is exceptional, but first let me establish a premise or two.

We Americans have a myth about ourselves. For those who think about such matters, some consider America as an historic extension, a link to that long ago outlier, better known as the Athenian democracy. We (America) are the apogee, the epitome of human “organizational” development, and the obvious, undeniable heirs to that distant Athenian utopia. I actually do see an historical connection to Ancient Greece and the irrefutable trajectory (to individualism and freedom) of Western man (and woman) over the past 2,500 years.

That said, we’re a truly disgusting lot, we human beings (as a species). We really are. For those believing that “God” resides in us all, well, some persuasively argue that that is an unequivocal indictment — for sure — of any godhead. Regardless, we rape, murder, pillage, war, brutalize, massacre, discriminate, pollute, and desecrate anyone and all things at will. ‘Tis true.

I find Vladimir Putin, president of Russia, a KGB thug. He’s an old time oligarch. He (I believe) murders opponents and unquestionably subverts the democratic desires of the Russian people. My point is we have the equivalent in America. We are not free of rapacious oligarchs who would weaken our democracy, manipulate our economic system and pollute our environment for personal gain at the expense of us all.

I cannot recommend enough that you read Jane Mayer’s “Dark Money – The Hidden History of the Billionaires Behind the Rise of the Radical Right.” It is essentially about David and Charles Koch. It is terrifying in its implications and bodes ill for the democratic future of America.

Pure and simple, our exceptionalism is our long running democracy. Thriving in our midst are the Koch brothers — men who willingly subvert our democracy. Our 229-year-old democracy is what has allowed America to peacefully deal with “those” elements that would so undermine our nation as to threaten our welfare.

How America deals with such threats will truly determine our exceptionality.