The end of American exceptionalism

The end of American exceptionalism

english.aljazeera.net

While most of the US sat transfixed by the ever-widening saga of Tiger Woods' infidelities, Barack Obama, the US president, gave what might well be remembered as one of the most significant speeches by a US leader in the post-World War Two era.

(visit the link for the full news article)

I thought this article was worth posting for several reasons. It is however, the opinion of the writer, Mark Levine.

Mark LeVine is currently visiting professor at the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at Lund University, Sweden. His books include Heavy Metal Islam: Rock, Resistance, and the Struggle for the Soul of Islam and Impossible Peace: Israel/Palestine Since 1989.

First, I think that it encapsulates the essence of the average American's attitude right now which is solely based around whom Tiger Woods has been bedding. I laugh each and every day when I see headlines on CNN.com about Iran seizing an oil well in Iraq, US military exercises aimed at showing Tehran exactly what they would be dealing with, healthcare reform updates, etc. But, despite all of the important world news that is occurring, without fail the number one story on CNN is about Tiger Woods' latest conquest and pictures of his wife's new multi-million dollar bunker.

Second, it seems that the world, as are Americans, is becoming more and more disenchanted with Obama. His rhetoric has become shadowed by his actions, and no longer are eloquent speeches hiding what is quickly becoming George Bush's third term as President.

Third, it is becoming more and more obvious that it is better to be negotiating with a man that has no problem telling the world that the United States operates under the assumption that we are the greatest country in the world versus the man that now stands before world leaders apologizing for all the US' transgressions, asking them for forgiveness, begging to start our relationships anew, but then behind their backs continuing the same policies that he is apologizing for.

The difference I suppose is in perception. It is one thing to act in a manner that you feel is justified by one's overall desire to spread goodwill and democracy for all -- simply the bad acts are necessary in order to achieve a greater good. However, it is entirely another to stand up and say "What was done is not right and will not happen on my watch. We are a different America than we were the past 8 years." Then, as the world responds with hope for a better America, the same policies and destruction continue.

America's hope, the same hope that got Obama elected, has been replaced with a simmering anger set to boil over should things not turn around. It seems that the worlds' hope has also been misplaced as more and more leaders are recognizing that the days of the United States are quickly coming to an end.

Rather than challenge or even scrap the system that produced this violence and the periodic blowback it generates, the Obama doctrine will reinforce it.

Thus the bewildering continuities between Obama's policies and those of George Bush, his predecessor, emerge: the continued presence in Iraq - which is not close to "winding down" as the president described it, the deepening footprint in Afghanistan, the refusal to support treaties banning land mines and biological weapons, the continued use of private mercenaries, the ongoing detainee abuse at Guantanamo and Bagram prisons, and defence spending higher even than his Republican predecessor's.

These are not mistakes; they are inevitable policy choices in a system built on imperial dominance. And like empires past, they are justified by the use of rhetoric and arguments that exalt one's own ideals while misrepresenting and denigrating those against whom the mistakes are committed.

But where Bush administration officials readily admitted America's imperial status, Obama has banished the idea from polite conversation even as he shores up the system.

And so Obama declared in Oslo that when the US fights it does so as the "standard bearer" of morally justifiable violence, engaging only in "just wars" to pacify otherwise unresolvable conflicts.

The article then goes on to point out that the world has begun to take matters into its own hands rather than wait for the US to be the "savior" we often taut ourselves as.

In that regard, perhaps the most historically significant aspect of Obama's speech is its irrelevance on the ground.

Around the world people who once looked to the US for inspiration or support are taking matters into their own hands. No one is waiting for the US to save or even support them anymore. The signs are everywhere, particularly in nearby Copenhagen, where smaller nations and a global NGO community is standing up to the US and other powers with unprecedented force.

Note: I am not justifying Bush's actions while President nor defending anything he did.

On a final note, I would like to point out that one of the main reasons that Obama got elected and was so well received initially by world leaders was his message of hope.

Hope knows no language barrier, knows no borders, and requires not a drop of blood to be spilled.

Unfortunately, once hope diminishes, one is left with the opposite of hope: despair, disbelief, discouragement, hopelessness, and pessimism.


english.aljazeera.net
(visit the link for the full news article)

Nice thread! From the mass brain washing of citizen's all over the world ( Tiger has been the no.1 story over here in europe too), to the gross doublespeak rhetorics of a man obviously restrained by TPTB, this article and your statments put into word's my feeling better than i could have, S + F!

For anyone who wants to read the full text of that Obamanation of a speech here's a LINK.

I almost gagged when he slapped Ghandhi and King in the face halfway in.
We are truly heading into a 1984esque Orwellian nightmare if the public start swallowing crap like this. 2+2=5 anyone?

S&F OP, great find, great post.

It is sad days when the antics of a sports figure can overshadow the more pressing problems that directly effect the daily lives of so many. Between yourself and the author of the story, I really can't think of anything to add to it except that I agree.

Obama is the first Post American President. This means the global order or interest comes before American interests.

At this point he's having some trouble trying to "transform" America into something it's not. This is because of the Constitution. The Constitution has kept us free of tyrants and dictators.

This is why Obama said in 2001 he thinks the constitution is fundamentally flawed because it restrains government and doesn't talk about the redistribution of wealth.

The Founders restrained government so no man or government can control peoples lives.

This is why I think a false flag event will occur before the 2010 elections. This is because martial law is the only thing that will untie the restraints of the Constitution.

What liberals and Progressives want to do is destroy American power. This is why I say liberalism is a massive guilt trip. So they never blame the dictators that are robbing and raping there own countries and people, they always will find a way to blame America.

Arafat got over 55 billion and died a billionaire with his wife going on shopping trips in France while people in Palestine live like it's 2,000 B.C. The liberals and progressives will not blame Arafat, they will blame Israel and America.

They don't realise if you dim America's light then you are doing nothing but hurting liberty and freedom because dictators and tyrants could care less about any world order. They just want power. The people in America are not perfect but the ideal of America is perfect and that's freedom and liberty of the human soul. You destroy that and you empower dictators and tyrants.

Also, I didn't support Bush. He was also horrible.

Is this not yet another story featuring Tiger Woods?

Or it is an exception because it is filled with anti-usa rhetoric in addition to Tiger?

Originally posted by Matrix Rising
They don't realise if you dim America's light then you are doing nothing but hurting liberty and freedom because dictators and tyrants could care less about any world order. They just want power. The people in America are not perfect but the ideal of America is perfect and that's freedom and liberty of the human soul. You destroy that and you empower dictators and tyrants.

You are absolutely correct. Despite the many blemishes on America's record, people need to remember that the dictators of the world are not going to simply retreat to their own little countries if the US fails.

It's all well and good for all of the people in the world to rejoice in the idea that "Americans will get theirs" but they fail to truly understand the implications of this.

Originally posted by Deny Arrogance
Is this not yet another story featuring Tiger Woods?

Or it is an exception because it is filled with anti-usa rhetoric in addition to Tiger?

If you really feel that this thread is about Tiger Woods, I would encourage you to re-read (or actually read past the first paragraph) the article.

Further, it is not anti-USA rhetoric in my opinion, but rather the acknowledgement that the entire landscape of the world is changing.

Whether one thinks it is changing for the better or worse of course is personal opinion.

Originally posted by lpowell0627

Originally posted by Matrix Rising
They don't realise if you dim America's light then you are doing nothing but hurting liberty and freedom because dictators and tyrants could care less about any world order. They just want power. The people in America are not perfect but the ideal of America is perfect and that's freedom and liberty of the human soul. You destroy that and you empower dictators and tyrants.

You are absolutely correct. Despite the many blemishes on America's record, people need to remember that the dictators of the world are not going to simply retreat to their own little countries if the US fails.

It's all well and good for all of the people in the world to rejoice in the idea that "Americans will get theirs" but they fail to truly understand the implications of this.

There is no reason for US citizens to fear any "dictators of the world" boogie-man.. it's silly.. there is no communist-terrorist-dictator ready to snatch you out of bed... the federal govt is another story...

The world would be just fine without the DC mafia world police monolith starting wars, killing people and hypocritically lecturing others "do as we say, not as we do".

Do you personally go driving to the other side of town getting in other peoples business, telling them how to live, what to do, printing money to bribe joe to go kick johns ass, then selling them both guns??

What if some dude has a house (resource) you really like across town, can you make up an un substantiated story you swear is true (WMD intelligence) then violently move in (occupy), hang the owner & kill his family? yeah it's against the law, and when you asked for permission the answer (UN vote) was "no".. and it turns out you were a fat liar..BUT you had a really good reason... the guy who lived there was a dick!! AND your lawyer (yoo) wrote you a permission slip.

The only thing "exceptional" about someone who acts like that, is what an "exceptional" bully they are.

Why on earth is it "OKAY" for the US govt to go around doing things to nations, we would would never do to our neighbors because we'd be hated, or arrested or killed..