Well, it's difficult to pick apart what Obama said. We don't know exactly what he meant by "exceptional". There are a few definitions of this word. It can mean unusual or uncommon. It can also mean extraordinary or superior. The fist definition could pretty much apply to all countries. Every country is unique in its own way. The second definition seems like a typical American attitude. So many Americans truly believe they are be best at everything. It's clear if you just look at American military recruitment ads. They often say that American soldiers and the smartest, fastest, strongest etc. soldiers in the world.
Thanks for your thoughts.
It is typical of young organisms, both persons and nations, to think of themselves as exceptional.
But that is a mere adolescent folly.
The more years pass since 1775, the more obvious it will be to the Nth President that US is just one of the nations.
And if there is a microscopic (from the eternity's vantage) distinction to be better at something, this is quite rare,
and it's just stupid to be proud of that miniscule advantage in a self-absorbed way: better make the rest of the world be proud of you, including the Europeans.
Not tremble in fear or disgust, but proud.
This reminds me of video I saw a while back. It's apparently a clip from an HBO show call the Newsroom. (
). There is a type of panel discussion where somebody asks why the US is the greatest country in the world. Two people gives some answers like freedom and diversity. Then finally the 3rd guy gives a good answer about how it actually is not the greatest country. He uses statistics to show that the US is far from #1 in so many areas. Maybe the US was better before, but there are so many countries doing better in different fields. If you just take freedom and diversity, then there are dozens of countries with that.