I like being American — most US citizens tend to agree. It’s neither a contentious nor controversial statement. I’m quite content at leaving my opinion at that, but there are those who feel they must validate their preference beyond the fact that America is where they currently reside.
In other words, Americans, like all people, constantly have to define themselves in relation to the outside world. This search of identity plays out in everyday life even in the farthest reaches of government. If being American is important to you, there must be a legitimate reason for it. This is felt throughout the people and their government.
American foreign policy hinges on the belief that we do exist (obvious), that we matter (questionable) and that the US is superior to everyone else (doubtful). I mean, I like the place; the weather’s nice and I have a car and moving violations are only loosely enforced. The US has a lot of things going for it. I just don’t know why anyone would call it objectively and definitively superior to other countries. What makes one place better than another anyway?
If you ask some people, however, one country can be better than the rest, and more importantly, that one country just happens to be the US. Admittedly, it’s a little delusional but normally these sorts of sentiments are harmless. Manifest Destiny wasn’t the best idea, but people like William Kristol would argue that this new Exceptionalism is different. In the past, the US was just another developed country but in the modern age; we’ve become the sole recognized “superpower.”
So in a sense, perhaps American Exceptionalism is rooted firmly in the empirical world. It’s easy to see why an American would see the US as superior — in many ways we are presented in such a manner. This, however, is hardly a justification. While the American economy remains stronger relative to many other country’s despite the current financial abnormalities. The US does devote a larger portion of its GDP to military spending and does maintain a larger, better-equipped army, air force and navy because of these expenditures.
Even if this is true, it is important to remember money and military strength make a powerful country, but using the word “best” confuses the argument. When you start classifying the US as a superior country (for economic, cultural or religious reasons), you enter into dangerous territory.
When American interests become the greater good by default, many unthinkable actions can be justified. First Afghanistan and Iraq, then what next? Arguments of superiority can be justified so long as it appears to protect America’s future/potential welfare. In many cases the actions may be legitimate, but it won’t always be so.
—Thomas Shattuck is a junior in the School of Engineering. He can be reached at thomas.w.shattuck@vanderbilt.edu.
