Our creed, our history

Too many Americans ignore one or the other element of that mix. Some on the left would like to ignore the ways that America’s roots in the level-headed and incrementalist British common-law tradition make it sensible about change and realistic about human nature — and the fact that we are a nation, not just an idea. Some on the right would like to ignore the ways that America’s commitment to enlightenment liberalism makes it deeply idealistic about individual liberty and social equality — and the fact that we have always been a nation on a mission. The combination of these facets of America, embodied in our Constitution , is a sober republicanism unlike anything the world has ever seen.

The National Review has been doing a series on American Exceptionalism that we will be sharing from time to time as it is a concept with which we have become mildly obsessed.

Seriously, if you have any interest at all in the founding principles of this country and the nation’s history both pre- and post- revolution, how can you not be fascinated by the question of “what exactly is it that makes us so different?” Because we are. We really are.



Google search engine thought of the day: Our image search for “American Exceptionalism” turned up some flags and eagles but just as many if not more America as greedy capitalist pig, imperialist war machine and fascist police state images.

Indicative of people not understanding the concept or indicative of people just hating?