Protestantism

» Brian Tubbs - American Exceptionalism

In response to answering PT posted by paper_turtle:

What you said has nothing to do with the point I was trying to make.

I disagree. What I was getting at strikes at the HEART of how America has traditionally understood Right and Wrong in foreign policy - and that HAS very much affected how Europe and the rest of the world views us.

The United States was founded at a specific point in time (July 4, 1776) on a specific set of ideals and principles (Declaration of Independence followed later by the US Constitution).

Accordingly, American foreign policy has been based HISTORICALLY and TRADITIONALLY on two principles....

1) Preservation of our "sacred form of government" -- of the United States of America

--This reflects our deep commitment to national sovereignty AND American leadership (so that we not unequally entangle ourselves in foreign alliances and treaties that will undermine OUR security and interests). American unilateralism.

2) Commitment to spread democratic and (yes) free market principles to the rest of the world

--We have historically believed that our way of life was the best and that we should export that to the rest of the world. Sometimes, we've tragically overreached here, and sometimes, we've lost sight of our own ideals here. But, by and large, our motives and heart have been good - despite what Howard Zinn would have us believe.

These impulses, PT, have fueled America's foreign policy, including our absolute, unequivocal commitment to standing AGAINST communist expansionism in the 20th century. We fought the Cold War because of the above two principles - and we were (except for the Carter years) unswervingly committed to winning the Cold War!

We were therefore committed to STOPPING - yes, STOPPING - nations from sliding into communism. First, we believed it was WRONG for a nation to give itself over to communism -- based on our belief that democracy and a free and open market were the right forms of government PERIOD. And SECOND, it was NOT in our best interests for more nations to align themselves with the Soviet Empire. So, we were willing to do what had to be done to stop countries from falling into communism - again, except for the Carter years.

Although, thankfully, when the Soviets invaded Afghanistan, even weak-kneed, incompetent Jimmy Carter saw the light. His own words: "The scales have fallen from my eyes." And THEN he became belatedly committed to winning the Cold War! But it was too late for many nations he had given over to the communists and (in the case of Iran) to Islamic fundamentalism. Carter weakened the United States!

The point in all this is....my philosophy is based on traditional American principles and values. The United States should strive to spread democracy and free markets to the rest of the world AND should do what it needs to do to protect and safeguard its just interests. On the latter point, if we need to drop an atomic bomb for example to end World War II (and save countless American lives from an impending invasion of Japan), so be it!!

THIS is the kind of American exceptionalism and unilateralism that turns off much of Europe - since IT doesn't see things in a nation-state context like we do. And since Europe is drifting more and more to the Left. But I am NOT willing to let other nations dictate AMERICAN foreign policy. We must continue to do what needs to be done in pursuit of those two historic principles outlined above.