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| Monticello |
It’s Thomas Jefferson’s birthday as I write this. My wife and I just returned from a wonderful
long weekend in Charlottesville, VA, the site of Jefferson’s home Monticello
which we enjoyed visiting. The occasion
for the trip was not Jefferson’s birthday but rather my cousin’s wedding.
The weather was wonderful and the wedding celebration even
more so. As is often the case, I managed
to find my way into an intellectual discussion in the midst of all this
celebration. I enjoy a debate that is
respectful and where I have the opportunity to learn something new as was the
case on this occasion. Standing a few feet from the Italian buffet, I was
discussing American Exceptionalism with a well-traveled and obviously well read
woman.
She decries the use of the term. Having lived overseas at various times in her
life, she connects it to the boorish Ugly American who embarrasses us all. She is undoubtedly correct in making that
connection. Many conservative politicians have used the term to advance the idea
that Americans are superior. I agree
with her in that I find Americans to be no more exceptional than citizens of
other countries.
The term American Exceptionalism can be traced to the
writings of Alexis de Tocqueville and refers to the notion that the United
States was born of new ideas -- liberty, equal opportunity and laissez-faire
economics. In that sense, America was
and remains exceptional.
Our economic progress has been the result of ideas embraced
by both major political parties. Public investment in infrastructure, private
investment in free enterprise and openness to immigration have created an
economy that generates nearly a quarter of the world’s GDP despite having only
5% of its population.
So, despite the xenophobia of established citizens and
political efforts to slow the influx of immigrants, they keep coming. The promise of an American way of life is as
attractive today as it was in the 19th and 20th
Centuries.
Our continued prosperity is derived from principles of
Economic Freedom – free market capitalism, private property rights, the rule of
law and predictable policy. It’s no
surprise that Jefferson’ study has a portrait of John Locke hanging on the wall
to this day. Locke was preeminent in the
British Enlightenment of the 1690s. He
promoted then radical ideas that all citizens should be free to enjoy the
fruits of their own labor, that innovators should enjoy the profits resulting
from their inventions and that capitalism is the prime mover for
prosperity.
And so, even today, America can claim to be exceptional for
its adherence to the founders’ principles and for its diversity of thought and
culture.
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| The blessing circle |
My cousin and his bride are both Italian Americans raised as
Roman Catholics. Our celebration lasted
for three days. On the last evening, the
couple asked for the blessings of their friends and family. Standing in a loose circle, we were all given
the opportunity to offer our words of love to the newlyweds. The blessings were officiated by a couple
that ministers to a Unity Church. He was
raised in a Jewish household and she as a Roman Catholic. The offerings included special remembrances
(some offered in Italian) as well as a Baha’i prayer recited by an Iranian
American and a Jewish recitation that preceded the groom breaking a glass
followed by a shout of “Mazeltov!” by the assembled congregation.
How’s that for exceptional?
Somewhere Thomas Jefferson was smiling.
WHO WILL LEAD?
Deb Hartogensis Godden Thank you! I take your point(s) with appreciation. My main problem with AE is how the term has been misused -- taking your definition as a basis -- and turned into a defense of blind, nationalism cloaked by a kind of sanctimonious patriotism that only turns people into bullies. It's fear, I suppose, and the discomfort that comes of a sense that we have no history and no culture, which is crazy. We are enriched by the history and cultures of all the people who came here to shape us. Instead, we hate one another. But yes, that wedding celebration was superb!
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