When considering the concept of American Exceptionalism we would do well to ponder both the good and the bad, the super-heroic and the villainous aspects of our nature. When we do, we find ourselves strangely in balance, and an understanding and appreciation of this balance may prevent us from destroying ourselves in a fit of jingoistic self-righteousness similar to that which started the First and Second World Wars.
Suggesting that we are in balance, of course, is not what the exceptionalists had in mind at all. They want to see only the American ideals, America in its conceptual perfection, the land of the free and the home of the brave as portrayed by Norman Rockwell, and they would like America to stand as first among nations and have the rest of the world acknowledge that we are the greatest and most wonderful of all nations. If the rest of the world would look only at the wonderful ideals that are the exclusive focus of the exceptionalists, then surely they would all bow to America. Unfortunately for the exceptionalists, the rest of the world has no reason nor motivation to indulge American narcissism by seeing only the best and most wonderful aspects of our nation. If a guest at a dinner party stood up and loudly asked, “Am I not the smartest, noblest, strongest, handsomest, most wonderful (and humblest) person at this party!?” then surely an embarrassing silence would follow, and a friend, not unlike Vladimir Putin might gently suggest that we are, in fact, all equal, each of us unique and exceptional in our own special way.
Exceptionalists feel that it is unpatriotic of us to consider any of the darker aspects of our nation and seem to cling to the simplistic belief that ignoring the bad parts will magically make them go away, when in reality, refusing acknowledge and therefore to fix problems and injustices causes them to grow unchecked. No one dared challenge the hyper-patriotism and self-righteousness of the German National Socialist party in the mid to late 1930's. It seems that all of the most horrific acts of evil have been committed by people who were unquestioningly convinced of their own righteousness.
The problem is that unquestioning patriotism makes us feel wonderfully righteous, while choosing to shine a light into our darker aspects in order to clean them up makes us feel depressed, embarrassed and debased as we confront our faults and set them right, thus restoring our genuine righteousness, even though it doesn't feel that way.
How much more respect and cooperation would we as a nation receive if, instead of crowing about our exceptionalism, we humbly acknowledged our shortcomings and faults while simultaneously offering up our hopes and dreams for ourselves as well as for the rest of the world? Perhaps our willingness to acknowledge our faults and humanity might inspire other nations to be willing to humbly examine themselves as well. We are all humans and simultaneously blessed and cursed by our all too imperfect human nature.