At work I occasionally check the internet headlines at work to see what is going on in the world. It is much like popping the window open for a breath of fresh air. Or in this case to get a whiff of the bullshit wafting through the air waves in the form of comments made by W. concerning China and human rights abuses.
I think this is tied to the concept of American Exceptionalism, the irrational belief that the U.S. is somehow better or different than other countries no matter what.
In short it is a sickness based on fucking arrogance.
More below.
American Exceptionalism
American exceptionalism (cf. "exceptionalism") refers to the belief that the United States differs qualitatively from other developed nations, because of its national credo, historical evolution, or distinctive political and religious institutions. The difference is often expressed in American circles as some categorical superiority, to which is usually attached some alleged proof, rationalization or explanation that may vary greatly depending on the historical period and the political context.
Now consider these headlines that I saw.
Bush to Urge China to Improve Human Rights
BANGKOK — On the eve of the Olympic Games in Beijing, President Bush said that he had "deep concerns" about basic freedoms in China.
Hmm yes basic freedoms--like those stripped away by the USA PATRIOT ACT?
Just six weeks after the September 11 attacks, a panicked Congress passed the "USA/Patriot Act," an overnight revision of the nation's surveillance laws that vastly expanded the government's authority to spy on its own citizens, while simultaneously reducing checks and balances on those powers like judicial oversight, public accountability, and the ability to challenge government searches in court.
http://www.aclu.org/...
Bush then continued talking about basic liberties due to all human beings....
"The United States believes the people of China deserve the fundamental liberty that is the natural right of all human beings," says the draft of the speech, which mentions neither the Olympics nor specific abuses that have drawn new international criticism of the Chinese government. "So America stands in firm opposition to Chinas detention of political dissidents, human rights advocates, and religious activists."
Except for little things like wiretapping, torture, Guantanmo Bay Cuba, sneak and peeks. In reference to Gitmo consider the following:
"The government's position in this case is stunning," says Jonathan Hafetz, a Marri lawyer at the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University. "If they are right, they can pick up any immigrant tomorrow in this country, lock them in a military jail, and the government would hold the keys to the courthouse." Mr. Hafetz adds, "The government could effectively disappear people."
http://www.csmonitor.com/...
Then I saw this headline......
China revokes visa of gold medalist, Darfur activist Cheek
Olympic gold medalist and outspoken Darfur activist Joey Cheek has had his visa revoked by the Chinese embassy, hours before the speedskating champion was set to fly to China. And he wasn't even planning on wearing a mask when he got there.
Chinese officials don't need a reason to revoke anyone's visa but, in their eyes, they had plenty of reasons to snatch Cheek's. He is the founder of Team Darfur, a group of 70 athletes whose goal it is to raise global awareness of the human-rights violations taking part in the Darfur region of Sudan. China's military, economic and diplomatic ties to Sudan have been well-publicized in the lead-up to the Games.
But we don't do that here?
Some of those who have been stopped for special scrutiny by TSA agents in recent months have been specifically told that their names were "on a list." Last spring, Virgine Lawinger, a 74-year-old nun and a member of Peace Action, was stopped at the Milwaukee airport along with some 20 other members of the group on their way to Washington to lobby the Wisconsin congressional delegation against military aid to Colombia...
Barbara Olshansky, assistant legal director of the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) in New York, reports that she has been stopped and searched every time she has flown since 9/11.
http://www.inthesetimes.com/...
So yes. American Exceptionalism is alive and well. We think we are better than other countries just because of fucking arrogance.
But as the definition states:
American exceptionalism refers to the belief that the United States differs qualitatively from other developed nations, because of its national credo
When we give up our Credo we give up our right to criticize other countries. We have lost what American is supposed to be. To think we can do otherwise is a sickness based on blinding arrogance.