this exceptionalist view defines how McCain view American and the rest of the world. it is how he and many others (regardless of political party) interpret events and make decisions about the future. this view is not hidden, in fact it is explicitly advocated and that anything less in unpatriotic. McCain and others argue for American intervention on behalf our better-ness, they argue for our leadership on behalf of our moral standing and they argue for our supremacy on behalf of our set-apart nature.
this is a view of America and the world that i think wrong. America and Americans are simply people, who because of benefits non can claim individual credit for have befallen us opportunity and choice. have America and Americans made better of our opportunity and choice than other nations and peoples? one could make that case. but that does not separate us from the world as in anyway better.
this is the Obama view of America and Americans. that we are in a position to influence the world not because were are fundamentally different but rather because we are fundamentally the same. that our ability to empathize with all people gives us enormous ability to shape the present and the future. moreover, that the world faces challenges that cannot be tackled by a single nation and a single people. but instead we face challenges that call all of humanity to bind to what brings us together rather than the divisions that separate us.
this is a view of America and Americans i think is right. moreover, i think this a profoundly Christ-like view of the world.
i do not think i as an American am in any way, shape or form different than a french man, an Arab man or a Chinese man. are our cultures different? will we have different values based on where and how were raised? will we view the world differently? yes. and this is where the exceptionalism theory would say, "and our way is right, or better or best". to that i say no. we are all fallen people, running faulted nations apart of sinful peoples. there is no way to differentiate between the righteousness of Americans versus the sinfulness of another people.
it is important to these two candidates in this frame work. it truly defines how they (and we) see the world. how we craft policies and how we respond to crisis events. if you think Americans are fundamentally better than everyone else McCain is you man. if you think Americans are the same as everyone else Obama is yours.
3 comments:
i like this post a lot.
i have a question though...
what if i like one man's character and believe he might be a good leader for making relations but don't necessarily agree with some of his other domestic policies. in your opinion what do you think is more important domestic or foreign policy? or do they go hand-in-hand?
I think we all need to start with a realistic view of our politicians, they're fallen people. That simple fact seems to elude voters and politicians rather frequently.
That doesn't mean why shouldn't have high standards, but it does mean we should tempered expectations.
It also means we are not going to agree with presidential candidates on every issue.
The process of prioritizing issues is different for every person based on personal experiences, ideology or put more broadly; world view.
Whether one policy arena is more important than another is very debatable. I would tend not to separate the importance of one from another.
It is out of principled and complete domestic policy that a country has not only the moral imperative but also the pragmatic authority to have a strong foreign policy agenda.
Anonymous is Chrissy, by the way...
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