America is a unique country in many aspects of life from the economy, military strength, political maturity, social connections/mobility, security and the divergent of races/ethnic groups. It has acted as an example to many nations around the world. Each nation from Europe, Asia to Africa, wants to be like the United States. Due to its superiority in major aspects of the nation as it has been a focal point where major decisions affecting the globe emanate. However, this does not mean America is different from other countries in the world. America can be same with other countries in terms governors, religion believes, social groups, industrial base, and economy. But the structures established to perform and implement these activities are exceptional. This is what makes the United States to stand out from other nations. It is these perceptions/ beliefs that have made Americans believe they can achieve anything, and their American dreams are valid. Nevertheless, American exorcism believes is under threat due to the fact the current generation may not hold the same beliefs as the old generation. This is because the country is facing variety of problems from unemployment, insecurity and inflation to name a few (Peter, 2014).
Obama and the Burden of Exceptionalism
According to this article of the wall street journal by Shelby, the author believes that President Obama is destroying this great nation. The destruction the country is facing is intentional due to application of the wrong ideology in leading the country and wrong-headedness on the part of the President. Furthermore, the problem the country is currently is due to lack of experience on how to lead the nation. Thus, due to the undefined and odd character the country is longer the envy of other nations.The lack of experience to lead the nation to greater heights is associated 1960s liberalism that had adversary on the American exceptionalism. At this time, the America was facing a lot of evil both in the social level and at the economic level. At this time corporate greed, racism, militarism, sexism and environmental degradation were the norms of the day. Thus, his failure can be associated with the evil at the time he became of age (Shelby, 2011).
According to the author, although the President did not run for the President on anti-exceptionalism platform but his actions speak for themselves. His application of the presidential power and distribution of resources is seen to have been shaped by his stand on liberalism from American’s exception. The president has been leading the country from behind instead of being the head of the nation where he lead with example. The freedom he is advocating is destroying the nation. Additionally, the writer observes that when things go out of hand or as he had intended, he blames the American capitalism and the Wall Street for his failure. The President ran for the president with the slogan 'hope and change'. However, it seems when he got to the office his slogan has change to hope. The only thing he seemed to change American exceptionalism (Shelby, 2011).
The American exceptionalism is what got the president to power. The people did not elect the president because he was African-American but due to its advancement in the social mobility where everyone has a chance to lead the nation. Without the American exceptionalism, the President who comes from the minority groups in the United States would not be elected. The Americans were also hoping the president would build on the American exceptionalism by advancing the strengths of the military, culture and the economy of the country (Shelby, 2011).
The writer observes that the American exceptionalism did not come easy. Many individuals sacrificed and strived a lot to make sure the freedom and rule of law being enjoyed now are achieved. Although they faced difficulties such as self-betrayals and many shortcomings, the United States evolved to an exceptional nation.American exceptional is faced with great challenges beyond the President. Every global problem is brought to America for solutions. The country is facing an animosity from a number of Muslims countries due to the fights with these nations. The country is spilling blood and destroys resources in foreign countries. Thus, the country has become a hated nation in many places around the globe (Shelby, 2011).
On the American soil, things are not good either. The things that made the American standout are no longer being practiced. Personal initiative and responsibility which define the American exceptionalism are no longer practiced. Today American society is defined by the competition of excellence and hypocrisy. It is this hate among the citizens that have enabled the terrorist groups to penetrate into the country and cause disaster and shame to the whole nation. The fall of the American exceptionalism according to the author, is a result of enfeebled education system, unsure of the war the country is facing, and mediocrity in the leadership of the country (Shelby, 2011). Therefore, according to the writer, the president has failed the country, and the fall of American exceptionalism is because of bad governance of the president
Analysis of the article
The president has not failed the country. This is because the country is now facing more threats from the terrorist than it did in the 1990s. Therefore, it’s hard to predict or single out a specific terror group or their movement. The Obama administration did not start the war in the Muslim nations, but it inherited these wars from the previous regimes. Thus, the president cannot be blamed for these wars. The American being a unique country with efficient resources and mechanism on how to solve its problem, it has attracted other nations that want to learn from America. The writer has to appreciate that, the world is changing, the resources have become scarce and population has increased. Therefore, people have to compete for the few resources that exist (Glickstein, 2002).
Reference
Glickstein, J. A. (2002). American exceptionalism, American anxiety: Wages, competition, and degraded labor in the antebellum United States. University of Virginia Press.
Peter B. (2014). The End of American Exceptionalism - NationalJournal.com. Retrieved from http://www.nationaljournal.com/magazine/the-end-of-american-exceptionalism-20140203
Shelby, S. (2011). Shelby Steele: Obama and the Burden of Exceptionalism - WSJ. Retrieved from http://online.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424053111904787404576532623176115558
