What is American Exceptionalism? Some people might say that it is a theory. Others like the American Communist Party use the term to describe how our natural resources, industrial capacity, and absence of rigid class distinctions might for a long while help us avoid some eventual and inevitable crisis that must befall every capitalist societies. In the 1960’s many post nationalist scholars began to reject American Exceptionalism on grounds that they claimed we had never really broken from European history and had in fact retained class inequalities. And yet others believe that American Exceptionalism is the claim that we are somehow better than other countries. This meaning has been twisted by many to be an example of American prejudice against other countries. But none of these definitions come close to answering the question at all.
So let’s ask the question a little more clearly. What is American Exceptionalism to you? I think this is a much better question as it bypasses all notions of what other people would like you to think American Exceptionalism is. I cannot answer this for you, but I can tell you what it means to me. However first I think some personal history is in order so you understand where I am coming from.
I was born on May 20’Th 1980, in Northern Michigan to a family who was so poor that we spent close to half my childhood homeless. My family never brought in more than $3000.00 in any given year and we had five hungry kids to feed. We saved money by living in the woods on government land and by eating local game and vegetation. I quit school after the eighth grade to help support the family. And when I turned 16 I left my family to go out on my own. With this said I must say that my childhood wasn’t as unhappy as you might think. My happiness was possible due to the fact that when it’s all you know it’s normal and there is nothing to miss.
Now that you know some of my background up until the age of 16, you might be wondering how I could believe in American Exceptionalism. My thoughts on and beliefs in American Exceptionalism were formed after I left my family and on the foundation of my childhood. You see after I left home I wandered for a while. It was not legal for me to live on my own and it was hard to make a break. But when I turned 17 that all changed.
At the age of 17 I found myself in Southern Michigan working two jobs and going to ground school to be a pilot. But that soon changed and as one opportunity closed another opened. I now found myself in Tennessee where I made far better money as a roofer for the next three years and started taking classes through the mail to be an electronics technician. When I was Twenty I decided that I needed a little more adventure in my life and joined the Army. I spent the next Seven years in the Army as an airborne meteorologist in the 82nd Airborne. I also simultaneously served as an electronics specialist who kept the meteorological equipment running. I would still be in the military if not for the fact that I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and med boarded out under honorable conditions because of my disability. I just couldn’t perform my duties as I once did. Upon leaving the Army I soon got married to my wonderful wife and spent the next couple years mostly just feeling sorry for myself. But then our son was born and I decided enough was enough and started Metis Web Technologies with no money and a whole lot of unpaid bills. Now at present day I have a beautiful wife and an awesome son who adores me. My business is doing better every month despite the bad economy. And I can see nothing but great things to come. My wife and I are already planning our next child and we could not be happier.
After reading my extremely brief personal history I hope my vision of American Exceptionalism is starting to appear. You see I don’t think America is exceptional because of government or because someone told me it was. I don’t think America is exceptional and therefore somehow superior to other nations. And I certainly don’t think our exceptionalism is based on flaws that will cause our inevitable collapse. I know America is exceptional and I believe whole heartedly in American Exceptionalism because of possibilities. Because I know firsthand that if you live in America and you’re willing to work hard you can make whatever dreams you have a reality. It doesn’t matter what hand you started out with. It doesn’t matter what lineage you come from. It doesn’t matter what obstacles are put in your way. And it doesn’t matter how big your dreams are. All that matters is that you stop listening to the naysayers and grab life by the balls. You have to work hard and not get distracted by what you don’t have now. You have to give a deaf ear to the word no. And you have to fail a few times before it all sinks in.
Imagine if everyone saw the possibilities that being born an America brings us. Imagine if everyone thought of American Exceptionalism as I do. It would not mean no one would fail, or that everybody would be happy. But if we all saw American Exceptionalism as I do we would all at least have a fighting chance. And for me at least it’s that fighting chance and the freedom to seek out my own personal possibilities that makes American Exceptionalism a reality.
I challenge you to ignore your peripheral vision and seek the possibilities in front of you. I challenge you to ignore anyone telling you the road is too hard. I challenge you to risk absolute failure in hopes of something grand. And I further challenge you to teach your children why American Exceptionalism is a vibrant and clear reality.
Please share with we your thoughts on American Exceptionalism. Feel free though to comment as you like. I would really like to know how your idea of American Exceptionalism may have change over time.
