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12/18/2016 7:19:01 PM
29
American Exceptionalism
Let's talk about American exceptionalism. So, before Vietnam, America saw itself as the best country that was a "global force for good" and supported democracy. However, during Vietnam, this all changed because American civilians and military personnel realized America was not a force for good, and instead did what ever they pleased, such as supporting multiple corrupt government, basically founding the "state" of South Vietnam, and multiple CIA led assassinations or overthrowing foreign governments that were elected.
Now, after Vietnam, Republicans began to attempt to save face and portray America as the victim of foreign aggressors without looking deeper into the reasons why they were targeted. Why didn't they ask why they were attacked? Because they knew America would actually be at fault and the attack was a consequence of American aggression.
To make matters worse, presidents Nixon and Reagan made it so being anti-war was seen as also being anti-vet or anti-soldier which it is most definitely not. This line of thinking has continued into the 21st century, where we as American citizens barely question the motives of our military and government due to the fear of being called "anti-soldier" or "anti-vet".
Unfortunately, it seems many Americans still view this country as a global force for good, but if you look deeper into the actions taken throughout the 20th century, you'll realize it is not. Hell, even the US Navy changed their slogan. Now, though, many Americans also see themselves as the victim of an unwarranted attack so that we can justify the actions taken by our government and military.
[spoiler]For more reading see; [i]American Reckoning, Kill Anything that Moves, Patriots: Vietnam War Remembered from all Sides[/i][/spoiler]
English
#Offtopic
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3 AntwortenAmerican Exceptionalism is like a fundamentalist religion. The way American nationalists act reminds me of the Proles in Nineteen Eighty Four.
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People like not knowing what's happening because it gives them more time to focus on themselves.
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5 AntwortenAs if we care what the world thinks. We like the world more than they deserve. Do more for them than we should. People likely don't support veterans like they could be doing. So what do we care? Other country's take care of there own. As do we when we want something. Just remember its not the military that makes war but politicians and merchants( who support it for the most part.)
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5 Antwortenyou need to take a better look at history "American Exceptionalism" began with the adoption of gold standard capitalist economics in 1870 and reached full government control and practice after the 1908 election in which William Mckinley the guy who was largely responsible for purposing and enacting the gold standard was elected president of the United States: what then followed was the adoption and onset of American "IMPERIALISM" policy in which the USA occupied and took over large portions of; Central America South America South Pacific Annexation of Hawaii Cuba Dominican Republic Caribbean Northern Africa Iraq(with allied involvement/shared rule afterward) and 1/3rd of the Ottoman Empire ^---> all prior to 1930 btw and when USA went to Vietnam it was in hopes to bring to Vietnam what we had done everywhere else i mentioned; specifically it was hoped and framed that Vietnam would become the next Singapore William Mckinley is also the First American to utilize the political campaign of; US dominance for common good as depicted by poster above
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7 Antworten[quote]Republicans began to attempt to save face...[/quote] What a strange thing to focus on considering LBJ was a Democrat.
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11 AntwortenYou're very misleading. You act as if we believe we've never made mistakes. For the most part we've done alot of good in this world. These countries actually benifited from us being there in most cases even south Vietnam until Congress pulled the plug. Your hatred for America is showing
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Hate to break it to you but there aren't any good or bad guys as far as organizations go. They're to big to be simply labeled as good or bad. That's not even mentioning the fact that perception is reality.
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9 AntwortenPolitics is easy. Let russia and china do whatever they want as long as they keep their peeps in check and stay outta our business
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1 AntwortenBearbeitet von STDs101: 12/20/2016 8:26:20 AMYou #offtopic political posters need to go find a politics forums. Too many off these around
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8 AntwortenWhy do you hate American veterans op?
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10 AntwortenIn general, Americans are very ignorant of their government's wrongdoings. The American people are hopeless. I plan to leave America in about ten years or so. I can't stand a problem that has no answer, and that's exactly what America is. A big problem that nobody can fix.
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15 AntwortenTl;Dr, you're just some fat kid who is too much of a pussy to take a bullet for their country.
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6 AntwortenThe quote in the third paragraph is actually very inaccurate. People aren't called anti-vet for questioning the war, as that is a government decision, not the decision of the soldier. People are called anti-vet if they don't afford basic respect to a war veteran, commonly because they have distaste for the conflict said soldier fought in.
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25 AntwortenAnd without the USA how would the world be?
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3 AntwortenAll Vietnam's fault......... Cool story bro
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1 AntwortenNow even being pro flag burning or pro abortion or any other liberties that align with the left makes you a vet hater
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15 AntwortenThe beauty of living in a free country is you can leave. There are plenty of other places for you to live, I'll pay for your plane ticket. Where are you going?
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6 AntwortenThat's a piece of the truth. It's not the whole truth. America is neither a force for good or a force for evil. It is a representative government. As such, it is a force for the American people's interests. The moral value of our government's actions are irrelevant to the purpose of our government. In other words, it's goal is not to be "good" but rather to be good for American interests. Putting that aside, American exceptionalism isn't entirely untrue. There was something historically and culturally special about America. Due to a number of natural advantages (such as geographical separation, untapped resources, and a tradition of self-government gained from and tolerated by Britain), the American colonies found themselves in the unique position to bring democracy and liberalism to the world. Nearly every "Declaration of Independence" ever written is modeled after Thomas Jefferson's. Our Constitution has been the framework for countless others. So, America IS special. We were the experiment that showed Europe their great Thinkers had it right. We proved that liberalism could work without chaos and anarchy. The lie is that there is something intrinsically virtuous in an American. Of course this isn't true. But, due to some lucky coincidences Americans have certainly been exceptional in promoting human dignity and freedom. [spoiler]We CAN have it both ways. The idea that the world is made up of good guys and bad guys is juvenile and naive. It's not a battle between good and evil. History and life is just the result of opposing interests colliding into one another. Every person, religion, and nation is composed of unspeakable evil and incredible goodness. The world's goddamn complicated and simple answers just dont exist. Rant End.[/spoiler]
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Bearbeitet von Iyrha: 12/19/2016 5:22:44 AMI'm 14 and this is deep.
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1 AntwortenOne of the root dividers in our country today. Its not hard to tell what groups prioritize teaching which.
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7 AntwortenDid we do some bad things? Of course. But what country hasn't?
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[b][i][u]MURICA!!!!!!![/u][/i][/b]
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5 AntwortenIf we don't help other countries, then we are assholes to them. If we do help them, our own people see us as assholes. It's a no win situation
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5 AntwortenThe majority of the rest of the world knows this already. We to are guilty of waging illegal wars. Most of America would not agree or be bothered by what you wrote,as it is in the past. I on one hand think that Tony Blair is guilty of taking Britain to war illegally and should be held accountable for his actions .
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7 AntwortenStill the greatest country to ever exist. If you don't like it.............
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Inb4 Ghost.
